WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- A big second inning at the plate and a competitive effort at the mound proved enough for Polk State College Baseball to earn its seventh win of the season, as the Eagles defeated Eastern Florida State College 5-3 on Thursday night.

The Eagles (7-5) have now won four straight contests, while the Titans (4-4-1) have dropped four of their last five.

Eastern Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a pair of runs plated in the top of the second frame. However, Polk quickly retaliated with four runs on six hits in the bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back RBI base knocks by Jordan Thomas and Nicholas Upperman put the Eagles on the board, with Upperman's rip up the middle driving in two runs, the first RBIs of his collegiate career. A sacrifice fly by Roberto Odor later in the frame scored Upperman and grew the Eagles' lead to 4-2. 

Sophomore righty Aiden Butler continued to look sharp on the mound, tossing five innings, allowing two earned, walking none, and striking out six batters. Butler earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season, where he has accumulated a 1.93 ERA.

The bullpen backed up Butler well, with Ryan Combs tossing two shutout frames in relief of Butler. Freshman JT Long continued to assert himself as Polk's closer, tossing two no-hit frames to close out the contest, walking just one and striking out five. Long earned his third save of the season.

"This was a very competitive effort from our guys," shared Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "Our guys stayed locked in vs. a very good Eastern Florida team and I am happy to see how we are trending."

The Eagles return to Bing Tyus Yard on Saturday for a doubleheader against Lake-Sumter State College. Game times are scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m.