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Box Score 2 FORT PIERCE — After splitting with then No. 1 Indian River State College earlier in the season, Polk State Softball wasn't so fortunate as the scene shifted to Fort Pierce. The Eagles were swept by the third-ranked Pioneers in a doubleheader on Tuesday night.
Polk State dropped the first game, 10-6. After falling behind big early, the Eagles made things pretty interesting.
After an RBI double from
Leia Hurst gave Polk State an early 1-0 lead, Indian River State responded with six runs in the bottom of the first. The Pioneers extended their lead to 7-1 in the second.
Polk State clawed back with a pair of runs in the third on RBI singles from Hurst and
Silvia Franzoni. Indian River pushed its lead to 8-3 in the fifth before Polk State battled back with three runs in the top of the sixth.
Nayeli Hernandez capped a big game with a two-run single in the inning before Franzoni scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 8-6. Polk State left the tying run in scoring position to end the inning. The Pioneers answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half.
Hernandez finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored in the loss. Indian River's Thaíma Maximiliana and Braylee Shields each finished with three RBIs and combined for five of the Pioneers' 10 hits.
After a pair of errors led to three unearned runs in the first game, Polk State had more defensive struggles in the second. Despite holding the Pioneers to three hits, the Eagles were run-ruled in five innings, 10-2.
In the second game, Polk State again drew first blood with a run in the second inning. The Eagles then evened things at 2-2 in the fourth as
Karyna Lewis laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Hurst.
In the bottom of the fourth, however, the wheels fell off as Indian River pushed across five runs. The Pioneers completed the run-rule victory with three runs in the fifth.
Four Polk State errors led to nine unearned runs in the contest.
Dee Allen struggled a bit with her command, walking seven, but only one run was earned.
Franzoni and Hurst each finished with a hit, RBI, and a run scored.
Jamie Reinhardt had the only other hit for the Eagles as each team finished with three. Sarah Phipps finished with two runs scored and two RBIs for the Pioneers.
With the defeats, Polk State (19-22, 6-16 Citrus Conference) has now lost a season-high six straight games. The Eagles will return home to take on College of Central Florida for a doubleheader on Thursday.
