WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - In its first of four games this week, Polk State Baseball cruised past TNXL Academy via run-rule on Monday night, 13-2. 
 
The Eagles scored 13 runs on 10 hits and committed two errors to improve to 14-11 on the season and 11-3 at Bing Tyus Yard. 
 
"This was more of the kind of hustle and total team effort we were looking for," said Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "We had a lot of unselfish at-bats today and our arms did a great job establishing the strike zone."
 
A pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the first by sophomore outfielder Nelson Taylor and sophomore catcher Travis Stapleton put the Eagles up early 2-0.
 
After the Ducks answered with an RBI single by Kalayo Shaw in the top of the second, the Eagles poured on four more in the bottom of the second to grow their lead to 6-1. A two-run single by freshman shortstop Aaraon Stelogeannis highlighted the big inning. An RBI double by Ray Bermudez in the bottom of the fourth extended the Polk advantage to 7-1.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Sam Duvall battled in his start to improve to 3-0, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out three over four innings pitched.
 
The Eagles took advantage of TNXL miscues in the bottom of the fifth to plate five more runs. Polk hitters were walked five times in the inning, including twice with the bases loaded. The inning was punctuated with a three-run triple by Taylor that made it 12-1.
 
The pitching duo of freshman Evan Koehler and sophomore Jaydon Bishop combined to strike out five of the last six TNXL hitters to close out the game.
 
Polk State heads to Ft. Pierce on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. first pitch against Indian River State College.