Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEARWATER – Suncoast Conference play has not been particularly kind to Polk State Softball, but the Eagles will end 2023 with more wins than they had in 2022. The Eagles bounced back from a loss to St. Petersburg College on Saturday to shut out Hillsborough Community College later in the day to accomplish the feat.

Polk State (15-24, 2-10 Suncoast) closed the day with an impressive 4-0 win over Hillsborough Community. The story of the contest was Baileigh Herrera who shined in the circle and at the plate in the victory.

Herrera tossed a four-hit shutout, allowing just one walk and two hit batters. She struck out three in the win.

At the plate, Herrera finished 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Kanitria Antenor also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, and an RBI.

Through five innings, Herrera's RBI double in the first had accounted for all the scoring. In the sixth, the Eagles doubled their lead as Emma Hart's RBI single scored Alma Fernandez to push the lead to 2-0. Polk State added two in the seventh; Antenor plated Kaitlyn Nieves with an RBI triple before scoring on Herrera's RBI single.

In addition to big games at the plate from Herrera and Antenor, Fernandez finished 3-for-4 in the victory. Nieves added two hits of her own.

"Baileigh pitched a great game with a defense that executed today," Polk State Head Coach Mark Skapin said. "Jillian Hudson played an outstanding shortstop in her first time playing the position and Kaitlyn Nieves was outstanding at the plate and in the field."

The day got off to a less-than-spectacular start as Polk State was dropped by host St. Petersburg in just five innings, 8-0. The Titans put things away with five runs in the fourth inning.

Alyson Lucas got the scoring started for St. Petersburg with a two-run single in the first. St. Pete added a run in the third before opening things up with the big fourth inning. Dani DiBenedetto finished with two hits and three RBIs for St. Petersburg.

Polk State's best offensive opportunity came in the second inning when it loaded the bases with one out but could push nothing across. The Eagles finished with just five hits. Two hits came from Alexis Hollinger, who returned from an injury suffered on March 7.

"Getting Alexis back after an extended absence was a huge shot in the arm to the team's morale after losing so many to devastating injuries this season," Skapin added. 

After winning just 14 games all last season, Polk State has surpassed that total with three remaining. The Eagles will play their final road games of the year on Tuesday as they visit State College of Florida-Manatee for a doubleheader.