WINTER HAVEN – Just two nights after scoring 17 runs in seven innings, Polk State Baseball's bats were largely kept quiet on Thursday night. The Eagles dropped their fourth straight Citrus Conference contest with a 9-4 home loss to Seminole State College of Florida.

For an inning, it looked as though the Polk State offense might pick up where it left off after Tuesday's 17-2 win over University of Tampa (B). Zach Lester's team-leading fourth home run of the season plated Bradyn Potter and staked Polk State to an early 2-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they would be held scoreless over the next seven innings.

Carter McKay cut the lead in half with a solo home run off Polk State's Carson Montsdeoca to lead off the second. After drawing even in the third, the Raiders used consecutive RBI singles from Enzo Ercole and Luke Doman in the fourth to go ahead for good.

Montsdeoca suffered his first loss on the mound, allowing six runs in six innings. The Raiders never scored more than two runs in any inning but scored in every frame from the second through the seventh before adding a run in the ninth.

Down 9-2 and to their last out, Polk State (12-9, 3-4 Citrus Conference) tried to make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After Marvin Montenegro was hit by a pitch, Hayden Testerman gave the Eagles their first runs since the opening inning with a two-run home run.

Lester and Jack Muller followed with two-out singles, but Seminole State's Chris Zupito was able to strike out Fabian Gavalo to end the game. Prior to the three straight hits in the ninth, the Eagles had just five for the game. Muller and Lester each finished with two of the eight Polk State hits.

Seminole State, on the other hand, finished with 14 hits. Doman and Elijah Hurt each had three hits. Doman drove in three while Hurt finished with an RBI and two runs scored. McKay also scored three times.

With Thursday's defeat, Polk State will have to sweep Saturday's doubleheader in Sanford to take the series from the Raiders. Game times are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.