Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WINTER HAVEN — In its first action in more than a week, Polk State Softball picked up a doubleheader sweep on Thursday. The Eagles took a pair of contests from John Melvin Christian College.

Polk State took the first game in dramatic fashion on a three-run walk-off home run by Lacey Osborne. Her blast capped a four-run seventh and lifted the Eagles to a thrilling 5-2 victory.

Entering the seventh, the Eagles had managed just one hit and trailed 2-1. After back-to-back hits to open the inning, Polk State drew even on an error in right field that allowed Ciana Vargas to score from first. A walk and a pop out set the stage for Osborne to be the hero as she lined a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left to secure the win for Polk State.

Prior to the seventh, Polk State's lone run and hit had come courtesy of Kirsten Aldridge. After doubling to lead off the fourth, Aldridge scored the tying run on an RBI groundout from Leia Hurst. John Melvin retook the lead a half-inning later on an RBI double from Amber Daughtery.

Hayle Peterson went the distance in the circle for Polk State, allowing just one earned run on six hits to pick up the win. Alridge scored two of the five Polk State runs. Abby Rainwater went 3-for-4 and scored both runs for John Melvin in the loss.

After pitching dominated the first game, the hot offensive finish carried over to the second game. The Eagles scored multiple runs in every inning in a five-inning run-rule victory, 15-6.

John Melvin scored took the early lead with two runs in the top of the first, but Polk State responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Three came on a triple by Makenzie Foster. 

John Melvin cut the deficit to 7-6 with four runs in the second but Layla Hinojosa was able to cool the visiting bats. Hinojosa didn't yield a hit in 3.2 innings of relief and struck out five.

The Eagles (5-7) added two runs each in the second and third innings before pushing across four in the fourth. Foster finished a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored. She homered in the third. Aldridge capped the scoring with a three-run home run in the fourth.

Calonnie Holmes finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the win. Aldridge, Vargas, Thea Williams and Rylee Hartnell also each scored twice.

Polk State hopes its victories will provide a little momentum heading into Citrus Conference play. The Eagles will begin conference action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Daytona State College.