Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NEW PORT RICHEY – Polk State Baseball split a pair of one-run games during Saturday's doubleheader to take the season series from Pasco-Hernando State College, the No. 1 team in the NJCAA Division II Poll.

Polk State capped the day by holding off Pasco-Hernando State for an 8-7 victory. Shut out through five innings, the Eagles' bats came to life with a seven-run sixth inning.

After a two-run blast from Marvin Montenegro tied the game, Polk State took its first lead of the day on an RBI single from Kustarr Webb. Webb would score on an RBI triple from Jack Muller to double the lead to 4-2.
Fabian Gavalo then singled home Muller. He would come around to score on a two-run double from Bradyn Potter.

Down 7-2, the Bobcats chipped away. After Michael Greenberg's two-run single in the sixth cut the deficit to 7-4, Pasco-Hernando scored runs in each of the final three innings.

Fortunately for Polk State, it was able to add an insurance run in the eighth as Potter singled home Josh Cruz. Down to their last strike, the Bobcats put together a two-out rally in the ninth with a walk and an RBI double from Juan Lopez Faria to put the tying run in scoring position. The Eagles turned to Anthony Schatz, who needed just three pitches to record his second one-out save of the year.

Potter had a monster game for Polk State, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. As a team, Polk State finished with 15 hits. Webb had three while Montenegro and Hayden Testerman each had two.

On the mound, Roman Corinti picked up his second win for Polk State, allowing two runs on just three hits while fanning five over five innings. For Pasco-Hernando, Lopez Faria homered twice, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

In the first game, a seven-inning contest, Polk State's rally came up just short, 6-5. The Eagles trailed 5-0 before putting the tying run in scoring position in the top of the seventh.

After scoring at least 10 runs in three straight contests, Polk State was blanked for three innings before breaking through with two runs in the fourth. Muller's RBI single got Polk State on the board before Gavalo drew a bases-loaded walk.

In the fifth, a two-run home run from Testerman cut the lead to 5-4. Pasco-Hernando was able to get an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from Sebastian Berrios, which proved to be big.

In the seventh, Zach Lester singled home Montenegro to cut the lead to 6-5. Kustarr Webb then walked to put the tying in scoring position with one out. Pasco-Hernando's Isaac Palacios was able to settle down and strike out Muller before getting Kevin Brunet to fly out to center to end the contest.

Montenegro and Testerman each had two of the six hits for the Eagles in the first game and combined to score all five Polk State runs. Brad Rhode shined out of the Polk State bullpen, working two scoreless innings. Vance Celiberti finished with three RBIs for the Bobcats.

After a 5-2 month of January, Polk State will open February with a pair of home games. The Eagles will welcome Indian River State College to Bing Tyus Yard on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. contest.