WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Through the first seven innings of Thursday's doubleheader, Polk State Softball kept pace with one of the perennial powers in NJCAA softball. However, the competitive effort ultimately ended in a familiar place for the Eagles, as they were swept by No. 3 Florida SouthWestern State College by scores of 5-2 and 12-0, respectively.
 
The Eagles (8-26, 2-22 Citrus) have now dropped eight straight, while the Buccaneers (34-4, 21-3 Citrus) secured their second straight Citrus Conference sweep.
 
GAME ONE: No. 3 FSW 5, Polk State 2
 
Despite not recording an RBI in the game, the Eagles stayed within three runs throughout the entirety of the contest.
 
After a two-run blast to right field by Virginia Mambelli in the top of the first made it 2-0, the Eagles got one back in the bottom of the second when Veronica Fernandez scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a rip single up the middle. Fernandez was 2-for-3 at the plate in game one
 
After consecutive runs plated by FSW made it 4-1, Polk reduced it back to a two-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth, where Ray Hansen was able to advance home from third while Nayeli Hernandez was being thrown out on a sacrifice bunt.
 
A Polk error in the middle infield in the top of the fifth allowed another Buccaneer to score and grow the advantage for FSW to 5-2.
 
Jamie Reinhardt turned in a gutsy performance in the circle versus one of the most talented offenses in the country, allowing just four earned runs in the complete game. Reinhardt walked just two and struck out three in those seven frames of work.
 
GAME TWO: No. 3 FSW 12, Polk State 0 (5 Innings)
 
Plating their 12 runs on nine hits, the Buccaneers scored two or more runs in each of the four first frames to bust open the contest early.
 
Skylar Brennan launched her second home run of the twin bill in the top of the second — a rocket over the centerfield fence that made it 5-0.
 
Getting the start behind the plate at catcher after pitching the entirety of game one, Reinhardt was a bright spot at the plate, going 2-for-3.
 
Donnea Allen and Hansen conceded six runs each from the circle for Polk and combined to record four strikeouts.
 
The Eagles have Saturday off before resuming Citrus action back at the Diamond Plex on Tuesday to face Miami Dade College. Game times are scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m.