WINTER HAVEN — Polk State Baseball erased a five-run deficit in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader to avoid the sweep against Indian River State College. An offensive onslaught propelled the Eagles to a 17-9 victory in seven innings.

Down 5-0 early, Polk State went ahead to stay with eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Eagles trailed 6-3 entering the inning before drawing to within one on Kevin Brunet's two-run home run. At one point in the frame, seven straight Polk State hitters reached base.

Hayden Testerman's two-run single put the Eagles ahead to stay. Zach Lester followed with a two-RBI single of his own to make it 9-6. A Kustarr Webb RBI double and Jack Muller RBI single extended the lead to 11-6.

Indian River State responded with three runs in the top of the sixth but could get no closer. Bradyn Potter's solo shot in the bottom of the sixth put Polk State up 12-9. 

The Eagles ended it with five runs in the seventh. Muller's RBI single made it 13-9 before Brunet's two-run bomb — his second homer of the game — extended it to 15-9. Marvin Montenegro's two-run double ended the contest.

As a team, Polk State (20-15, 9-9 Citrus Conference) finished with 19 hits. Potter finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Brunet finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Montenegro, Testerman, Webb, Lester and Muller each had two hits. All nine starters in the Polk State lineup scored a run and seven scored at least twice.

For Indian River State, Camren Baker finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. EJ Burns scored three times. Niko Benestad added three RBIs.

On the mound, Polk State starter Roman Corinti had an uncharacteristically rough outing. Brad Rhode and Dalton Tibbetts each tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Polk State dropped the first game, a scheduled seven-inning contest, by a 6-4 score. Indian River State used a two-run fifth inning to go in front for good.

Andy Schroeder broke the 4-4 tie in the top of the fifth with an RBI triple. He'd score an insurance run on a single by Benestad. Benestad homered in his prior at-bat to give the Pioneers a 4-1 lead with a solo shot in the third.

The Eagles were able to get that run back in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly from Muller to score Montenegro. Polk State drew even in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles from Montenegro and Testerman.

At the top of the Polk State order, Potter, Montenegro and Testerman each had two hits. Potter and Montenegro each scored twice, accounting for all of Polk State's runs. Testerman finished with two RBIs. Benestad and Burns each had two hits, a run scored and two RBIs for the Pioneers.

On the mound, Ronald Causby took the loss. Caden Jensen followed with two scoreless innings of relief for Polk State. Jonathan Wolaver threw 3.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win for Indian River.

By avoiding the sweep, Polk State remains ahead of Indian River State in the Citrus standings. More than halfway through conference play, the Eagles are in a three-way tie for fifth. They'll remain home to take on Florida Southern College (B) on Tuesday.