SANFORD – Polk State Baseball had late leads in each game of Sunday's doubleheader, but was unable to make either hold up. Seminole State College of Florida scored in its final at-bat in each of the two games to complete the sweep.
Polk State was able to overcome a pair of one-run deficits in the first game, a seven-inning affair, but couldn't hold on in a 4-3 loss.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead to the bottom of the sixth. After Seminole State's Luke Doman doubled in the tying run, the freshman infielder scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Seminole State's Alejandro Abreut got the scoring started with a solo home run in the third inning but Polk State's
Jack Muller answered in the top of the fourth with a solo shot of his own. Enzo Ercole led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to put the Raiders back in front.
In the fifth, Polk State catcher
Marvin Montenegro tied things up with an RBI double. He would later score on an error to give the Eagles their final lead.
At the plate, Montenegro had three of the seven hits for Polk State. Starting pitcher
Ronald Causby gave the Eagles a solid four innings on the mound, scattering six hits and two walks. He allowed two runs while fanning six.
In the second game, the story was similar. Seminole State scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to rally past Polk State, 5-4.
The Eagles took a 4-3 lead to the bottom of the eighth in the nightcap. After Ercole singled home the tying run, it was again a wild pitch that put Seminole State ahead to stay. Elijah Hurt scored the game-winner.
Brad Rhode and
Caden Jensen came up with big strikeouts to keep the deficit at one for Polk State. The Eagles, however, went in order in the ninth.
Polk State (12-11, 3-6 Citrus Conference) started strong, taking an early lead on a two-run homer by Montenegro in the first. The Eagles pushed the lead to 3-0 on a
Bradyn Potter double that scored
Josh Cruz in the second.
The Raiders drew even with three runs in the third, including two on a double by Juan Orozco. Polk State regained the lead 4-3 in the sixth.
Kustarr Webb doubled to lead off the inning before scoring on a Muller sacrifice fly.
Roman Corinti gave Polk State a gritty effort on the mound, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out four.
The Eagles outhit Seminole State 9-8 in the loss. Webb and Cruz each finished with two hits and a run scored. Hurt, Ercole and Chase Jackson each had two hits for the Raiders.
With the defeats, Polk State has now lost six straight Citrus Conference games. The Eagles will try to remain over .500 on Tuesday when they return home to take on Webber International University (B).
