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Box Score 2 TAMPA — The last team to win a Citrus Conference game is now the most recent to do so. Polk State Softball broke through in a big way on Friday night with a doubleheader sweep of Hillsborough Community College.
After rallying to win the first game 5-3, the Eagles (8-18, 2-14 Citrus) rolled in six innings in the second, 10-0.
In the opener, Polk State erased a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning against Hillsborough's
Baileigh Herrera, a former Eagle.
After
Jamie Reinhardt's RBI single scored
Natalie Hiles to put Polk State on the board,
Nayeli Hernandez evened things with a two-run single.
Jillian Hudson responded with an RBI double to give the Eagles the lead for good.
The lead seemed to energize pitcher
Donnea Allen, who allowed just a walk the rest of the way. Allen kept the Hawks off the board over the final four innings. She allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five to earn the win.
After taking the lead in the fifth, Polk State added an insurance run in the sixth as
Jaylenne Taboas singled home
Gianna Scopano. The Eagles finished with 10 hits in the win. Hudson, Hernandez, and Reinhardt each finished with two.
In the second game, Reinhardt shined from the circle, allowing just five hits in six shutout innings. Reinhardt didn't register a strikeout but didn't yield a walk either.
The Eagles broke through offensively in the third with a pair of runs. Hernandez's RBI single was followed by Hudson's RBI double.
After Hudson's sacrifice fly scored
Kagan Dudney to push the lead to 3-0 in the fifth, Polk State blew things open with seven runs in the sixth.
Ray Hansen, Hernandez, and Hiles each had RBI singles in the frame. Dudney drove in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk before Hudson was hit with the bases loaded. The Eagles added two more runs in the inning on a Hillsborough error.
Hudson, Hernandez, and Allen each had two hits. Hudson (3) and Hernandez (2) combined for five RBIs.
Polk State will try to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when it visits Indian River State College. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
