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Box Score 2 NEW PORT RICHEY – To say that the Polk State Baseball pitching staff is in a groove might be an understatement. Although the Eagles settled for a doubleheader split on Saturday at Pasco-Hernando State College, the arms continued to shine.
Over the last four games, Polk State (4-5) has allowed just five total runs. After dropping the first game to the Bobcats on Saturday by a 3-1 score, the Eagles rebounded to win the second, 4-1.
In the opener, a seven-inning contest, Pasco-Hernando managed just four hits in five innings against Polk State starter
Evan Koehler. The problem for the Eagles was that three of them were consecutive.
With two outs in the third, a double from Daniel Castilo got the Bobcats started. Following a single from Dylan DeGusipe, Luke Dickerson's home run gave Pasco-Hernando a 3-0 lead and all of its offense for the game.
After letting scoring opportunities slip early on, Polk State got its lone run in the top of the fourth inning.
Pierce Glading singled with one out before scoring on an RBI double from
Nicholas Upperman. Polk State would end up leaving the bases loaded in the inning and had just one runner reach scoring position for the rest of the game.
Koehler took the loss despite throwing five strong innings. At the plate,
Greg Pettay and
Jordan Thomas each reached twice in the loss.
In the second game, it was starting pitcher
Trevor Caldwell who shined for the Eagles. Caldwell allowed just four hits and no walks in five shutouts innings to pick up his first win of the year. Glading and
JT Long combined to allow just a run on two hits in four innings out of the bullpen.
Polk State wasted no time finding the offense in game two, pushing across three runs in the first inning. The Eagles added a run in the seventh before Pasco-Hernando broke up the shutout with a run in the eighth inning.
Aaron Stelogeannis finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.
Damion Kenealy and
Evan Wainman each added two hits in the win. A double from Kenealy served as the only extra-base hit of the game for Polk State.
With the doubleheader split, Polk State takes the season series from the Bobcats. The Eagles will play six of their next seven games at home, beginning on Tuesday against Webber International University (B). First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
