Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MIAMI – The start of Citrus Conference play proved unkind to Polk State Softball as the Eagles were swept in a doubleheader at Miami Dade College on Tuesday afternoon with a run disparity over the two games of 21-3.
 
After being blasted in the opener, Polk State (6-6, 0-2 Citrus) showed resolve in the second game. The Eagles rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to draw even but a three-run fifth for the Sharks was the difference as Miami Dade prevailed, 6-3.
 
Polk State watched the Sharks touch home 18 times before finally getting on the board in the top of the second inning of the second game. Trailing 3-0, Jillian Hudson opened the frame with a double to deep left field before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Veronica Fernandez.
 
The Eagles drew even in the fourth as Rylee Christmas' single was followed by a throwing error that allowed Jamie Reinhardt and Fernandez to score. That tied the game, 3-3.
 
Reinhardt bounced back from a three-run first in the circle to throw three straight scoreless frames for the Eagles before Miami Dade ultimately found its offense again in the fifth. Gabriela Luz's RBI single put the Sharks ahead for good. Maria Valls Raya followed with an RBI single of her own before passed ball allowed the third run of the inning to score.
 
Ty Marie Cervantes retired all six Polk State hitters she faced to record the save for Miami Dade. Polk State managed just four hits in the contest. Alexis Ortega went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for the Sharks.
 
The day for Polk State probably couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. Miami Dade needed just five innings to dispose of the Eagles in the first game, 15-0.
 
Polk State was no-hit by Miami Dade's Aimi Tohara, who struck out six and walked three. While the Eagles went without a hit at the plate, things didn't go much better in the field as the team committed seven errors, leading to seven unearned runs.
 
The Sharks blew things open with 13 runs in the second inning after Polk State pitcher Donnea Allen worked a 1-2-3 first. Ortega's three-run triple was among the inning's highlights for Miami Dade. Polk State committed four errors in the frame while the Sharks drew six walks and came up with five hits.
 
Ortega finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored for Miami Dade. Cervantes finished 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, two runs, and a pair of RBIs for the Sharks.
 
Polk State will play at home for the first time in Citrus Conference play on Thursday as No. 9 College of Central Florida visits the Diamond Plex. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.