WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Although the final Suncoast Conference standings were cemented prior to first pitch, Polk State Baseball fostered some positive momentum with a hard fought 8-7 victory over State College of Florida-Manatee on Monday night.
 
The Eagles (32-20, 14-9 Suncoast) overcame being doubled up by the Manatees (31-23, 17-6 Suncoast) in hits 8-4. Polk capitalized on five SCF errors on the night, of which the Eagles directly scored two runs on.
 
Free passes were handed out in abundance by both pitching staffs, with eight walks issued by Polk and 13 base on balls awarded by SCF.
 
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles plated four runs on two hits and two errors to earn their first lead of the night 4-1. A two-RBI single to right field by Ray Bermudez punctuated the inning.
 
Freshman pitcher Sam Duvall kept the Eagles competitive on the mound coming out of the bullpen in long relief. Entering the contest in the top of the third with the bases loaded and nobody out, Duvall sat down eight straight Manatees to give Polk the space to manufacture more offense.
 
After the Manatees got one back in the top of the sixth, Roberto Odor smacked one into the left center gap with two on to extend the Polk advantage to 6-2 before coming around later in the frame on an error to make it 7-2.
 
State College of Florida proceeded to score five unanswered runs over the seventh and eighth frames, with four of those coming off of base hits. A two-run single up the middle by Lucas Ismaili in the top of the eighth knotted up the contest 7-7.
 
After a one-out single that deflected off the SCF pitcher in the bottom of the eighth, Nelson Taylor advanced to second via an errant throw by reliever Sam Gilbert on a failed pickoff attempt. Taylor then stole his Region 8-leading 28th base of the season to move over to third before scoring the go-ahead run via a wild pitch by Gilbert.
 
"Our guys did a great job of being aware on the basepaths and making SCF pay for mistakes," said Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "We received great efforts from a lot of different guys which is what you want to see heading towards the postseason."
 
Two-way Polk standout Damion Kenealy entered the game in the top of the ninth and retired the Manatees to earn his second save of the season.
 
Polk looks to force a split with SCF in the series finale this Wednesday in Bradenton. First pitch at Robert C. Wynn Field is set for 6 p.m.