SANFORD – Polk State Softball gave another valiant overall effort on Tuesday but was again unable to head home with a victory. The Eagles were swept by No. 17 Seminole State College in a doubleheader.

Polk State nearly pulled off a stunning comeback in the first game. Once down four runs, the Eagles were able to load the bases in the seventh, but their rally came up just short, 7-6.

Polk State trailed 7-4 entering the final inning but consecutive singles from Leia Hurst and Savanah Ford brought the tying run to the plate. Following back-to-back groundouts, the second of which scored a run, Calonnie Holmes and Shyla de Lautor each singled and stole a base. That cut the lead to 7-6 and brought RBI leader Kirsten Aldridge to the plate with the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Seminole State turned to Skyler Cloud. Cloud walked Aldridge but was able to bounce back to strike out Lacey Osborne to end the contest.

Polk State was able to draw first blood with a pair of runs in the second inning. Seminole State answered with four in the bottom of the frame before extending the lead to 6-2 with two runs in the third. Four of the seven runs for Seminole State were unearned.

In the fourth, Polk State cut the four-run deficit in half as de Lautour and Osborne each drew bases-loaded walks. The Raiders answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Despite the loss, Polk State finished with nine hits to six for Seminole State. Ciana Vargas finished 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Holmes added two RBIs. Hurst, Emma Kaylor and Thea Williams each scored twice. In the circle, Layla Hinojosa worked the final 3.1 innings, allowing just a run on one hit and one walk.

Mackenzie Pitzer finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored for Seminole State. Emma Bastian finished with two RBIs in the win.

The Eagles dropped the second game in more heartbreaking fashion. Julianna Nieves belted a two-run walk-off home run to lift Seminole State to an 8-6 victory.

For the second straight game, Polk State struck first. Aldridge's solo homer in the first inning gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead and made her the first Polk State player in 12 years to hit 10 home runs in a season.

Back-to-back home runs from Sophia Vanderkooy and Nieves gave the Raiders a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first, but that was short-lived. In the top of the second, Holmes' three-run triple put the Eagles up 4-3.

Polk State extended the lead to 6-3 with two runs in the third inning. Osborne doubled home Aldridge before scoring on a Ford RBI single.

Seminole State drew even with three runs in the fifth. Nieves' two-run single tied the game at 6 apiece.

For Polk State (18-30, 10-22 Citrus Conference), Holmes, de Lautour, Aldridge, Hurst and Ford each had two hits. Vanderkooy and Nieves each went 2-for-4 for Seminole State, combining for three runs and seven RBIs.

With the losses, Polk State is mathematically eliminated from FCSAA Tournament contention. The Eagles will return home to celebrate Sophomore Day on Saturday with a doubleheader against Hillsborough College.