WINTER HAVEN — Polk State Softball is still in search of its first Citrus Conference home win. The Eagles battled, as usual, but were swept by Miami Dade College in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Polk State (8-28, 2-24 Citrus) had a three-run lead in the second game but couldn't hold on. Miami Dade went ahead for good with 10 runs in the fifth inning in an 18-10 victory.
The Eagles appeared destined for their first conference home win with three runs in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie. After a line drive to center off the bat of
Jamie Reinhardt scored
Gianna Scopano to put Polk State in front,
Natalie Hiles executed a bunt to score pitcher
Donnea Allen. Hiles capped the three-run frame by scoring on an RBI single from
Nayeli Hernandez.
From there, things went south. The Sharks pushed across seven runs in the fifth before the Eagles could record an out.
Allen was able to leave two runners in scoring position in both the second and third innings but the big out was nowhere to be found in the fifth. Gabriela Luz tied the game for Miami Dade with a two-run double. The Sharks ahead for good when Lissett Sosa was hit with the bases loaded.
Polk State scored first when
Jillian Hudson doubled home Hiles. Miami Dade answered with an unearned run in the second.
After scoring 10 runs in the fifth, the Sharks added six runs in the sixth. Polk State fought back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs. Following Hudson's two-run home run, Scopano singled home
Veronica Fernandez.
The teams traded two-spots in the seventh inning.
Kagan Dudney and Fernandez each added RBI fielder's choices to cap the scoring.
Luz, Gessenia Hernandez, and Jaiden Tretter each finished with three RBIs for Miami Dade. Hudson finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs for the Eagles. Hernandez,
Rylee Christmas, and
Ray Hansen each added two hits in the loss.
Errors were the difference in the first game as Polk State dropped a pitchers' duel, 4-2. Miami Dade cashed in with a pair of unearned runs.
Reinhardt again shined in the circle. She worked around nine hits and three walks to allow just two earned runs in her seven innings.
After the Sharks plated the first run on flare to left field that bounced off Dudney's glove, Reinhardt scored the Eagles' first run on a sharp single from Hernandez in the bottom of the fourth. Miami Dade went ahead for good with runs in each of the next three innings.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Polk State drew to within one with a two-out rally. Hernandez was able to draw a walk before coming home on Hudson's first RBI double of the day in the gap.
After the Sharks added a second unearned run in the top of the seventh, the Eagles twice brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning. Scopano grounded into a double play for the first two outs. After Christmas walked with, Hansen hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Jimena Kunigami and Ty Marie Cervantes each went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Miami Dade in the opening contest. In addition to RBI hits from Hudson and Hernandez, Reinhardt and Dudney each added singles for the Eagles.
Polk State will hit the road on Thursday to take on No. 10 College of Central Florida. Start times are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
