WINTER HAVEN – Polk State Softball used a seven-run fifth inning in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader to salvage a split with College of Central Florida at the Diamond Plex, 9-8.
After College of Central Florida scored runs in the third and fourth innings, Polk State finally found the offense in the bottom of the fourth.
Makenzie Foster went deep to left field for the game-tying two-run home run. Even bigger things were in store for Polk State an inning later.
Ciana Vargas started the fifth-inning rally with a one-out infield single. She would come around to score the go-ahead run later in the frame on an RBI single from
Lacey Osborne.
With the bases loaded,
Calonnie Holmes was able to extend the lead to 5-2 with a two-run double. After Foster scored on a passed ball,
Savanah Ford capped the monster inning with a three-run double that gave the Eagles a 9-2 lead.
The Patriots, however, made things interesting. After pushing across two runs in the top of the sixth, Central Florida cut the deficit to 9-8 in the seventh on Abbie Roach's grand slam. The Eagles turned to
Layla Hinojosa, who retired the only batter she faced to collect the save.
In the circle,
Avery Wende gave a strong start, allowing just three earned runs in six innings while striking out three. Osborne and Foster each finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate for Polk State.
Roach finished 2-for-5 with five RBIs in the loss. Kaylee Riles added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Patriots. Samantha Albert scored three runs for Central Florida.
Polk State led most of the way in the first game, but Central Florida scored three runs in each of the final two innings to pull off a 6-5 victory.
For five innings, Osborne supplied all the offense. Osborne got the scoring started with a two-run double in the first. In the fifth, Osborne's sacrifice fly scored Holmes to increase the Polk State lead to 3-0.
For five innings, pitcher
Hayle Peterson had stifled Central Florida, but the Patriots tied the game with three runs in the sixth. After Hope Jordan's RBI single broke up the shutout, Riles went the other way for a two-run home run to knot the score, 3-3.
Central Florida's Payton Livingston singled through the right side in the seventh to put the Patriots on top for good. Riles provided some huge insurance with a two-run single later in the inning.
Down 6-3, Polk State wasted little time drawing to within one.
Shyla de Lautour walked to open the bottom of the seventh inning before scoring on
Kirsten Aldridge's two-run homer. Osborne followed by drawing a walk, but Naomi Meyer responded by retiring the next three Eagles, stranding Osborne at third.
Aldridge finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Leia Hurst added two hits. Riles was 2-for-4 with four RBIs for Central Florida.
