Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEARWATER — After winning its first four Citrus Conference series, the Eagles have now dropped their last five. Polk State Baseball opened the day with a thrilling win but ultimately settled for a doubleheader split with St. Petersburg College on Saturday.

Polk State evened the series by rallying to take a seven-inning contest in the first game, 5-4.

Down 4-2 after five, Polk State drew even with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. After Kevin Brunet kept the inning alive with a two-out pinch-hit single, Jordan Thomas followed with a two-run double to knot the game, 4-4.

Wade Johnson worked around a lead-off double in the bottom of the sixth before Liam O'Neil's second RBI single of the game scored Derek Fermaint and put the Eagles ahead for good. Johnson worked around an error in the seventh to pick up his team-leading fifth win.

RBI singles from O'Neil and Mason Mojica helped Polk State take a 2-0 lead early on. St. Petersburg got on the board with a run in the third before taking the lead with three unearned runs during a sloppy fourth for Polk State in the field.

On the mound, Jake Echols gave the Eagles five good innings. Nine different Polk State players finished with a hit as the Eagles finished with 10 to just five for the Titans.

In the second game, Polk State's rally came up short. The Eagles were able to cut a nine-run deficit to three, but could get no closer in a 9-6 defeat.

The Titans plated four runs in the first, two in the third, and three in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead. On the verge of being run-ruled, Polk State made things interesting with six runs in the seventh inning.

The Eagles (25-23, 13-14 Citrus Conference) had just one hit through six innings but came up with three of their six knocks in the seventh. Derek Fermaint broke up the shutout with an RBI single to left before Kenay Acevedo drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-2. After a misplay at second allowed two more runs to score, Thomas made it 9-5 with an RBI double but Andy Schroeder was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first. Thomas capped the six-run inning by scoring on a pitch in the dirt.

Polk State's bullpen did a nice job keeping the Eagles in it. Roman Corinti and Aiden Alvarez each worked two scoreless innings. 

Jose Rangel finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored for St. Petersburg. Jovaugh Davis and Dylan Cejas each had two RBIs in the win.

The 9-6 win for St. Petersburg in the second game was the only one of five matchups between the teams this season decided by more than a run. Polk State will remain on the road Tuesday when it travels to face South Florida State College.