WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Aiden Butler fanned nine batters through eight shutout innings on Thursday night, leading Polk State Baseball to a 6-2 victory over Hillsborough Community College in the Citrus Conference series opener.
 
The Eagles (14-14, 4-6 Citrus) scored all six of their runs through the first three innings of play, while the Hawks (15-10, 5-5 Citrus) plated both of their runs in the top of the ninth.
 
"Aiden threw fantastic today," shared Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "We played a good brand of baseball and capitalized on some early opportunities."
 
An HCC throwing error followed allowed Roberto Odor to cross on an RBI single to right field by Evan Wainman that scored Damion Kenealy and quickly earned Polk a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first.
 
The Eagles sent home three more in the bottom of the second, thanks to an RBI groundout by Kenealy and a two-RBI rip to left off the barrel of Pierce Glading to grow their lead to 5-0. Odor capped off the scoring for the Eagles with an double to left center in the bottom of the third that scored Jordan Thomas, who drew three walks in the win. Odor finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate — a career-high in hits for the Winter Haven native.
 
Butler dealt through the middle innings to help secure the lead for Polk. The Tallahassee native retired 13 straight Hillsborough hitters from the top of the fourth through the top of the eighth. Entering the top of the ninth looking for the completed game shutout, Butler put the first two hitters he faced in the frame aboard. Both eventually scored after Butler was relieved by JT Long.
 
After HCC made it a four-run game, Long composed himself to retire three straight to close out the game and secure the victory for Polk.
 
The Eagles now shift focus to Saturday's doubleheader versus HCC in Tampa which will conclude the series. Game times are scheduled for 12 and 3 p.m.