LEESBURG – For the second straight weekend, Polk State Baseball bounced back in the second game of a road doubleheader to salvage a split. The Eagles avenged a loss in the first game against Lake-Sumter State College on Saturday.

Polk State (7-4) found the offense late to take game two, 9-6. Through seven innings, a Marvin Montenegro lead-off home run and a Zach Lester run on an error had accounted for all the offense as the Eagles led 2-0.

Polk State appeared to have turned the contest into a rout with a five-run eighth inning. After Leo Suarez scored on a wild pitch, Fabian Gavalo delivered the big blow with a three-run double to double the lead to 6-0. Josh Cruz followed with an RBI single to make it 7-0.

Lake-Sumter State, however, answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Crow's two-run double broke up the shutout before Robert Kohler came through with a grand slam to make it a one-run game.

In the ninth inning, Polk State was able to add two insurance runs. After Jack Muller drew a bases-loaded walk, Montenegro scored on passed ball. Hayden Porter retired the Lakehawks in order in the ninth to pick up his first save.

On the mound, Polk State got a stellar start from Roman Corinti, who improved to 3-0 on the season. Corinti scattered seven hits and one walk over six shutout innings. He struck out three.

Montenegro finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the win. Lester scored twice for the Eagles. Hayden Harrison had three hits and a run scored for Lake-Sumter State.

Polk State dropped the first game in heartbreaking in a seven-inning contest, 2-1. The Lakehawks won on a walk-off groundball that was mishandled.

Prior to the bottom of the seventh, all the offense came early. After a solo home run from Noah Morales gave the Lakehawks a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Eagles tied things in the third as Montenegro's sacrifice fly scored Kenay Acevedo.

Polk State was powered by outstanding pitching. Ronald Causby allowed just a run over four innings. Brad Rhode took the loss despite surrendering just a hit in two-plus innings.

Rhode opened the seventh with a walk and a hit batter before the Eagles turned to lefty Anthony Schatz. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brady Byers rolled one to short. It was misplayed and Lake-Sumter scored the victory.

Polk State will have its final tune-up before the start of Citrus Conference play on Tuesday when it visits St. Johns River State College. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.