Box Score MELBOURNE – It was more nerve racking than Polk State Baseball would have hoped, but the Eagles found a way to hold on Thursday night, topping Eastern Florida State College in the Citrus Conference opener for both teams, 10-8.

Polk State raced to a 6-0 lead through two innings. Kustarr Webb delivered the big blow with a two-run triple during the Eagles' four-run first. An inning later, freshman Bradyn Potter belted a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run home run.

Eastern Florida State got to Polk State starter Carson Montsdeoca for a pair of unearned runs in the fourth on Chris Carroll's two-run double to cut it to 6-2. In four starts, Montsdeoca still hasn't allowed an earned run prior to the fifth inning this season.

After Webb doubled home his third run of the game in the top of the fifth, the Titans added a pair each in the fifth and sixth innings to make what had been a six-run deficit a 7-6 game. Polk State's Aiden Dolan was able to strand the tying run in scoring position to end the sixth.

Polk State (9-4, 1-0 Citrus) created some breathing room with a three-run eighth. After a walk, hit by pitch and single loaded the bases, Josh Cruz doubled the advantage with an RBI groundout. Kenay Acevedo followed with an RBI single before Marvin Montenegro doubled home Fabian Gavalo to cap the scoring for the Eagles. Eastern Florida State cut the 10-6 deficit in half in the bottom of the eighth with one swing of the bat – a two-run home run from Bryce Jackson.

Polk State's Dalton Tibbetts opened the bottom of the ninth by retiring the first two batters he faced, but the Titans followed with a pair of singles to put the tying run on base. Hayden Porter was tasked with getting the last out. Porter walked the first batter he faced to load the bases and put the winning run on but bounced back to strike out Eastern Florida's Richie Collazo to end the game and pick up his second save.

The Titans outhit Polk State 13-9 on Thursday, but five of the Eagles' hits went for extra bases. Webb, Potter and Acevedo each finished with a pair of knocks. Webb and Potter each scored twice.

On the mound, Montsdeoca was charged with just two earned runs on six hits over five innings to improve to 3-0. Tibbetts gave the Eagles 1.2 scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen.

For Eastern Florida, the 13 hits belonged to six players who had multi-hit nights. Jackson finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored in the loss.

The schools will be back at it to conclude their Citrus Conference series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Bing Tyus Yard. Game times are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.