NICEVILLE, Fla. - Polk State Baseball could not overcome a sluggish offensive start to Game 2 of the regional against Northwest Florida State College on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders ultimately defeated the Eagles 14-8 to force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.
 
The Eagles (33-22) were held to just one hit through the first four innings of play, while the Raiders (31-17-1) scored 10 runs over the last three innings and struck out 13 Polk hitters.
 
"We just didn't execute the way we are capable of today," remarked Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "Credit to their starting pitcher who was solid, but we needed to have more competitive at-bats out the gate and not try to do too much."
 
The Raiders built an early 2-0 lead through four innings, thanks to runs scored off of grounders. An error on a pickoff attempt by Jaydon Bishop followed by another RBI groundout scored two more in the top of the fifth to grow the NWFSC lead to 4-0.
 
Polk State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth when Ray Mercer ripped one into left field that scored both Aaron Stelogeannis and Aris Rivera.
 
Bishop, a sophomore lefty, competed enough on the mound to give the Eagles a chance, allowing three earned over six innings, while striking out four. A five-pitch inning by the Zephyrhills native in the top of the third highlighted his outing.
 
The Northwest Florida bats did their most damage against the Polk bullpen in the top of the seventh, plating six runs on three hits vs. three different Eagles' arms.
 
Polk State was able to fend off a run-rule defeat multiple times down the stretch. The Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, including two on a ball that was smacked off the left field wall by Nelson Taylor to score two and trim the deficit to 10-5.
 
After conceding three more runs in the top of the eighth, the Eagles answered with three in the bottom of the frame. Mercer capped off a four-RBI day at the plate when he sliced a ball down the right field line to bring Pierce Glading and Evan Wainman across.
 
Trailing by six runs entering the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles' bats were retired in order.
 
Polk and Northwest Florida will play a winner-take-all Game 3 for a spot at the final site in Lakeland. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.