WINTER HAVEN – Polk State Softball's home opener didn't go as planned on Tuesday. For the second time in as many weeks, the Eagles were swept by Lake-Sumter State College in a doubleheader.
Offense was hard to come by in the first game as Polk State dropped a 2-1 pitchers' duel. The lone run of the game for the Eagles came on the first swing as lead-off hitter
Calonnie Holmes belted a 3-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a lead-off home run to give Polk State an early 1-0 lead.
Hayle Peterson and
Layla Hinojosa combined to give the Eagles a stellar effort from the circle. The two allowed just two total runs on four hits. Hinojosa retired all four batters she faced.
Lake-Sumter was able to get to Peterson for the two runs in the fourth. Baylie Goodwin tied the game with a seeing-eye single. An RBI groundout by Sarah Torres, that turned into a double play because of high-risk baserunning, capped the scoring.
For the game,
Ciana Vargas and
Kirsten Aldridge each reached base twice as the Eagles managed just three hits.
After the pitching shined in the first game, the second game featured 13 runs in the first inning alone. Ultimately, the Lakehawks pulled away for a 12-6 victory.
Polk State didn't help its cause early on with multiple errors in the first inning. A two-run double by Emma Christensen and a two-run single from Jamie Hegendus highlighted a seven-run first for Lake-Sumter.
The Eagles, however, answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
Makenzie Foster drew a bases-loaded walk to get Polk State on the board before an RBI groundout by Alridge and a wild pitch that allowed
Leia Hurst to score made it 7-3.
Savanah Ford and Vargas followed with consecutive RBI singles to cut the deficit to two.
Rylee Hartnell scored on a wild pitch to cap the big inning for Polk State, but the Eagles left the bases loaded.
Unfortunately for Polk State, it would be held scoreless over the final six innings while Lake-Sumter tacked on. Christensen homered for the Lakehawks to jumpstart a two-run second. Lake-Sumter added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Following the strong first inning, Polk State (3-7) had no answer for pitcher Sydney Klein, who struck out nine in 6.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Six of Lake Sumter's 12 runs were unearned. After a gritty effort in the circle from
Kaylyn Mitchum over 4.1 innings, Hinojosa and
Jaelin Grant combined to keep the Lakehawks scoreless over the final 1.2 frames.
Holmes reached base safely three times for the Eagles, recording two of their six hits with a run scored. Christensen and Hegedus each had two hits and three RBIs for Lake-Sumter State.
With the wins, Lake-Sumter completes the season sweep of Polk State. Polk State will remain home to take on John Melvin Christian College in a doubleheader on Feb. 19.
