Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BRADENTON – Polk State Softball scored twice as many runs as its opponent on Tuesday, but settled for a doubleheader split at State College of Florida-Manatee.

The Eagles (16-25, 3-11 Suncoast Conference) opened the day with a 10-2 victory in six innings. The second game was more competitive but Polk State came up short, 4-2.

GAME ONE:

Stymied through three innings, Polk State's bats came to life in the middle frames. The Eagles went ahead for good with three runs in the fourth before pushing six more across in the fifth.

Trailing 1-0, Alexis Hollinger drew the Eagles even in the fourth with an RBI single off the second baseman's glove. That was followed with back-to-back RBI doubles from Jenna Satterfield and Jillian Hudson.

Four different Polk State players drove in runs in the fifth. Baileigh Herrera's RBI double plated the first run. Emma Hart, Kaitlyn Nieves, and Kanitria Antenor added RBI singles in the inning. A pair of poor throws from the Manatees allowed two of the six runs to score in the inning.

"The bats really came alive in game one with a ton of hard barrels that really did damage in a hurry," Head Coach Mark Skapin said. "The team really did a good job of cashing in on key opportunities and doing their job in key moments. Jill Hudson had a great day at the plate and Alexis Hollinger came through in the clutch multiple times."

The Eagles capped the scoring in the sixth as Kyra Ward's infield RBI single plated Alma Fernandez. In the circle, Herrera went the distance, yielding just two hits and three walks while striking out two.

At the plate, Herrera and Fernandez each went 2-for-3 in the victory. Fernandez scored three runs. Hart scored twice.

GAME TWO:

SCF's Karsyn Rutherford didn't make things easy on Polk State hitters in the nightcap. She struck out eight Eagles and allowed six hits.

Shut out through three innings for the second straight game, Polk State broke through in the fourth. Trailing 2-0, Antenor led off the inning with a single — Polk State's first hit. Antenor stole a base before scoring on Hollinger's RBI groundout.

A pair of unearned runs off Ward in the fifth pushed the Manatees' lead to 4-1 but it appeared the Eagles had got those runs back in the top of the sixth. A controversial call would ultimately halt Polk State's momentum.

Back-to-back singles from Antenor and Herrera to open the inning was followed by an RBI double from Fernandez. Hollinger appeared to plate another run with a sacrifice fly but umpires ruled that Herrera left third before the ball was caught. She was called out on the appeal.

Antenor finished 2-for-3 with both runs for Polk State in the loss. In the circle, Ward took the loss despite allowing just three hits and striking out eight.

Rutherford had two of the three hits for the Manatees. Stephanie Oaks scored two of their four runs.

Polk State and SCF will close the regular season against one another in Winter Haven on Friday. The Eagles will celebrate Sophomore Night with a pregame ceremony. The contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.