Box Score WINTER HAVEN – Liam O'Neil's single ended a back-and-forth contest as Polk State Baseball picked up its first walk-off win of the season, topping St. Johns River State College on Tuesday night, 9-8.

O'Neil's single followed back-to-back errors by the Vikings. Pierce Glading started the bottom of the ninth inning by reaching on a throwing error by St. Johns River shortstop Andres Natera. After Blane Schmitt threw away a bunt by Aaron Stelogeannis, O'Neil rolled one through the right side to score Glading to end the contest.

"I tried to hit it to the right side and give our guys a chance to score," O'Neil said. "I was hoping Pierce would make it."

O'Neil's single ended a contest with plenty of late-game drama. The Eagles trailed 5-4 entering the seventh inning before drawing even as Evan Wainman scored on a wild pitch. Shortly after, Jordan Thomas' RBI infield single, coupled with a Natera throwing error put Polk State up 7-5.

The Vikings, however, answered with three runs in the top of the eighth off Polk State reliever Ryan Combs. After Natera's RBI single cut the lead to one, Michael Furry's two-run single put St. Johns River back in front, 8-7.  

Polk State drew even in the bottom of the eighth as Roberto Odor scored on a wild pitch. JT Long struck out two during a scoreless ninth to pick up the win for Polk State.

"I like the way our guys stayed locked in and battled the whole game," Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil said. "We made lots of mistakes, but we got some big hits. It's nice to get back in the win column."

Polk State (13-14) finished strong offensively but it also started that way with three runs in the first, highlighted by Stelogeannis' two-run single to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Damion Kenealy added an RBI single in the second before the Vikings drew even with three runs in the third and went ahead with a run in the fourth.

Glading, Stelogeannis, and Thomas each finished with two hits in the win. Stelogeannis and Thomas each drove in two while Odor touched home three times.

Myles Liggins finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for St. Johns River. Nathan Gagnon, Andon Lewis, Natera, and Lucas Phelps each added two hits in the loss.

Polk State will look to win its first Citrus Conference series of the year later this week as it plays three games against Hillsborough Community College. The first takes place at Bing Tyus Yard on Thursday at 5 p.m.