WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m.: Polk State College (2-2) at Hillsborough Community College (0-3)

Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m.: Lake-Sumter State College (2-1) at Polk State (2-2)

Friday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m.: Polk State (2-2) at Pasco-Hernando State College (1-2)

Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.: Pasco-Hernando State (1-2) at Polk State (2-2)

PREVIEW

• During the Florida JUCO Early Bird Kickoff on Friday and Saturday, Polk State was fueled by great pitching. Despite playing two nationally ranked opponents, the Eagles currently own a 3.67 ERA. Jake Echols and JT Long opened the year by giving Polk State excellent starts.

• Through four games, sophomore outfielder Jordan Thomas has powered the offense. After a strong close to 2024, Thomas is batting .455 and ranks second in the FCSAA with six RBIs. Thomas set a new career-high with three RBIs in wins over both St. Petersburg College and Palm Beach State College.

• Derek Fermaint had the first walk-off hit of the season for the Eagles in Saturday's 8-7 win over Palm Beach State College with a game-winning double. The Eagles didn't have a walk-off win last season until March.

• Although he was the losing pitcher on Friday against Chipola College, Long pitched very well. He allowed just an earned run in three innings while recording seven strikeouts in his first career start. Long is currently tied for the FCSAA lead in punch-outs.

• Polk State's 3-2 win over St. Petersburg marked the first win in a season opener for the Eagles since 2020.

• Wade Johnson worked a scoreless seventh inning in the season-opening win against St. Petersburg to collect the first save for the Eagles this season. Polk State has had the FCSAA leader in saves in each of the last three seasons. 

• Polk State will play its home opener on Wednesday against Lake-Sumter State College. Lake-Sumter has the FCSAA Division II leader in batting average in Ryan Villaman. Mason Blackburn leads FCSAA Division II players in home runs (1) and RBIs (6). 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Thursday, Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.: Polk State College (5-2) at South Florida State College (0-0)

PREVIEW

• With seven games in three days to open the season, Polk State went 5-2. The Eagles start the week on a four-game winning streak.

• Pitcher Dee Allen is off to a dominating start for Polk State. Allen won each of her three starts without allowing an earned run. In 13.2 shutout innings, she allowed just six hits and six walks while striking out 17 batters. Through the first weekend of the season, she leads FCSAA Division I pitchers in both wins and strikeouts.

• Last season, Polk State hit just three home runs all year. Through seven games this season, the Eagles already have five blasts. Outfielder Chelsi Rae' Hebert leads the team and ranks second in the FCSAA with two homers.

• An All-Citrus Conference selection last season, Polk State's Nayeli Hernandez is currently tied for the FCSAA lead in stolen bases with four. Hernandez is also tied for the team lead with six runs scored and five RBIs.

• Outfielder Karyna Lewis ranks second in the FCSAA with eight hits for the Eagles. Lewis has hit in each of the six games she's played this year.

• Polk State will play a true road game for the first time this season on Thursday when it visits South Florida State College for a doubleheader. The Panthers will be opening their season. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.: No. 25 Eastern Florida State College (16-3, 5-1 Citrus Conference) at Polk State College (14-7, 2-5 Citrus Conference)

PREVIEW

• Polk State went 1-1 last week. The week featured the largest margin of defeat and largest margin of victory in Citrus Conference play. The Eagles bounced back from a 102-67 loss to No. 4 Daytona State College with a 91-67 rout of Indian River State College – their first conference road win of the season.

• With Saturday's win in Fort Pierce, Polk State has already surpassed last season's win total. The 14 wins is the most for the Eagles since the 2021-22 season. 

• Both natives of the Republic of Congo, Polk State's Fray Nguimbi and Jimmy Cami continue to rank in the top five in the FCSAA in rebounds per game.

• Polk State will look to end a seven-game losing streak to Eastern Florida State College when the Titans visit the Health Center. The Eagles haven't won in the series since Jan. 8, 2022. The last home win over Eastern Florida for Polk State came in November 2018.

• Eastern Florida State is led by forward Emondrek Erkins-Ford. Erkins-Ford ranks third in the FCSAA in points per game (16.6) and fifth in rebounds per contest (7.3).