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Box Score 2 AUBURNDALE -- Pitching shined for Polk State Baseball on Opening Day. The Eagles split a pair of seven-inning contests at the Florida JUCO Early Bird Kickoff at Lake Myrtle Park on Friday afternoon.
Polk State opened the day with a 3-2 win over St. Petersburg College in a pitcher's duel. The Eagles got four strong innings from starter
Jake Echols, who allowed just a run on four hits and one walk to pick up the win.
Jordan Thomas got Polk State on the board with a clutch two-run single with two outs in the second inning. St. Petersburg got on the board in the bottom of the third on an RBI infield single from Amarri Daniel.
After outfielder
Zach Lester was hit in the hand by a pitch and forced to leave the game,
Derek Fermaint made the most of his opportunity in Lester's place. With one out, Fermaint tripled in his first collegiate at-bat in the sixth. Thomas followed with his third RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly as the Eagles scored a much-needed insurance run.
Aiden Alvarez gave up a run in two innings of relief for the Eagles.
Wade Johnson worked a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
Polk State (1-1) got more excellent pitching in the second game of the day, but fell to No. 12 Chipola College, 3-1.
Last year's FCSAA leader in saves and Fireman of the Year,
JT Long allowed just a run on a hit while striking out seven in three innings in his first career start.
Jason Sawyer allowed two runs over the final four innings.
The Eagles were shut out for six innings before bringing the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh.
Liam O'Neil, last season's home run leader for Polk State, hit into a double play to score Thomas for the Eagles' lone run.
Kenay Acevedo had two of the six hits for the Eagles. Luke Williams finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI for the Indians.
Polk State will wrap up a busy weekend on Saturday with two more games at the Florida JUCO Early Bird Kickoff. The Eagles will take on Palm Beach State College at 12 p.m. and Indian River State College at 3 p.m.
