WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Citrus Conference baseball opened in thrilling fashion on Thursday evening at Bing Tyus Yard, where Polk State Baseballtopped the Santa Fe College, 6-4. 

The Eagles (9-7, 1-0 Citrus) overcame stranding 12 runners on base with great efforts on the mound from Aiden Butler and Ryan Combs, who struck out a combined total of 12 Saints (9-4, 0-1 Citrus).

Santa Fe struck first in the top of the second via an RBI single to center by Landon Rogers. The Saints doubled their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth with an RBI single up the middle by AJ Barrios. 

As the Eagles struggled to move runners early on, Butler competed fiercely on the mound in the start, striking out eight batters over 6.1 innings tossed, conceding two earned runs, walking one, and striking out a career-high eight hitters. 

Polk put the first four guys it sent to the plate aboard in the top of the sixth to catalyze its offense. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Evan Wainman and Jordan Thomas tied things up 2-2 before Wainman crossed on a wild pitch later in the frame to give the Eagles their first lead 3-2.

Santa Fe retaliated with two runs on three hits and an error in the top of the seventh to regain the advantage 4-3. 

However, it was Polk State who had the last word with a well pieced inning of offense in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Nicholas Upperman was called upon to pinch run for Pierce Glading, who led off the inning with a walk. As Upperman was attempting to advance to third on a wild pitch, a errant throw down to the hot corner by the Santa Fe catcher allowed Upperman to score and tie the game 4-4. 

An infield single later in the frame by Aris Rivera scored Greg Pettay and regained the lead for Polk for good. In the next at-bat, a rip to left field by the left-handed hitter Liam O'Neil off a left-handed pitcher scored Damion Kenealy, providing an insurance run. O'Neil was 3-for-5 on the night.

Combs earned his first win of the season, closing out the back end of the game with four punch-outs and just one unearned run allowed over 2.2 innings pitched.

"This was a very competitive effort by our guys tonight to open conference play," said Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "Butler and Combs were locked in on the mound and I thought we did better with our situational hitting tonight and made the hustle plays when we needed to."

The Eagles look to clinch the series tomorrow versus the Saints with a doubleheader in Gainesville. Game times are scheduled for 12:00 and 3:00 p.m.