WINTER HAVEN – Polk State Baseball resumed Suncoast Conference play on Friday with a thrilling come-from-behind win. Back-to-back home runs from Nelson Taylor and Ray Bermudez highlighted a six-run seventh inning as the Eagles rallied past Hillsborough Community College, 9-6.

Through six innings, Polk State had trouble figuring out Hillsborough Community starting pitcher Loagn O'Leary. A two-run single from Taylor in the third had accounted for all the Polk State scoring as it trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh. A walk to Pierce Glading and consecutive singles from Cole Griffith and Roberto Odor ultimately chased O'Leary.

"Their starter did a great job," Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil said. "We weren't able to barrel much up. We hung in there and got the big inning."

After Ray Mercer's two-run single cut the lead to one, a sacrifice fly from Aaron Stelogeannis drew Polk State (26-16, 8-5 Suncoast) even. That was followed by Taylor's no-doubt two-run blast that put the Eagles ahead for the first time and for good, 7-5. Bermudez followed with a solo shot of his own to push the lead to three.

Hillsborough made things interesting in the eighth. Against closer Ryan Combs, Blake Williams led off the inning with a solo home run. The Hawks were then able to load the bases with nobody out, but Combs responded with two strikeouts and a pop out to end the threat with no further damage.

Hillsborough was able to get to Polk State starting pitcher Evan Koehler with three runs in the first inning. After the Eagles had closed to within one in the third, Luke Stout and Jacob Griffith came up with back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the fourth to push the lead back to three.

Mercer and Taylor each had three hits for Polk State in the victory while combining for six RBIs. Griffith and Odor each had two hits and a pair of runs scored in the victory. Stout, Griffith, Trey Santana, and Brecken Fair each had two hits for the Hawks in the loss.

Combs picked up his FCSAA-leading ninth save by working the final two innings. Everett Martin shined during a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out two, to earn the win.

The victory was Polk State's fifth straight as the Eagles moved to 5-0 against the Hawks and clinched the season series. The teams will meet again on Saturday in Tampa. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

"We picked it up when it mattered and got the job done," Corbeil said. "These conference wins are hard to get and you got to play hard the full nine. I'm happy to be back in conference play after the week off."