Box Score WINTER HAVEN — With its season on the line, Polk State was able to erase an early 4-0 deficit on Thursday night but couldn't finish the job. The Eagles were eliminated from FCSAA Tournament contention with a 7-4 loss to No. 11 Florida SouthWestern State College.
The Buccaneers broke the scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth and pushed the lead to 4-0 in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth inning, however, the Polk State bats got going.
Jordan Thomas started the rally with a lead-off single before scoring on a
Zach Lester RBI triple.
Kevin Brunet followed with an RBI double and just like that, it was 4-2.
After
Hayden Testerman's RBI triple cut the deficit to 4-3,
Simon Scharff's RBI single drew the Eagles even. Both teams left the go-ahead run in scoring position in the seventh but the Buccaneers cashed in with two big hits in the eighth.
Michael McAloose doubled home the run that put FSW ahead to stay. Devin Parks followed with a two-run home run to give the Buccaneers a 7-4 lead and cap the scoring. Polk State (27-26, 14-17 Citrus Conference) managed just one base runner the rest of the way and struck out in four of its final six at-bats.
Starting pitcher
Jackson Graden gave Polk State a gritty effort on the mound, allowing just four hits in four innings.
Wade Johnson took the loss for the Eagles.
Lester, Testerman, and
Kenay Acevedo each had two hits in the loss. Five different players had multi-hit games for the Buccaneers, including Parks and McAloose.
With the loss, Polk State will fall short of the postseason for the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 season and the first time in a full season since 2019. The Eagles will conclude their season with a doubleheader at Florida SouthWestern State College on Saturday.
