WINTER HAVEN — For the first time since 2014 and 2015, Polk State Softball has put together consecutive 20-win seasons. The Eagles reached that threshold on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Hillsborough College.
Polk State used an early offensive onslaught to roll to victory in the first game, 8-2.
Calonnie Holmes set the tone with her third lead-off homer of the season.
Lacey Osborne added a solo shot of her own later in the first inning.
The Eagles turned the game into a rout with six runs in the second inning.
Shyla de Lautour doubled home a pair before
Leia Hurst cleared the bases with a three-run double to cap the big inning. Osborne also singled home a run in the inning.
In the circle, Hayle Petersen allowed just two runs on three hits in six innings while striking out four.
Kaylyn Mitchum worked a scoreless seventh to close it out.
The Eagles used another big inning to win the second game. Polk State scored six runs in the third inning in an 8-6 victory.
Polk State trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the third inning. Hurst's sacrifice fly cut the lead to 4-3 before
Grace Adamonis drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. After
Ciana Vargas drove home
Makenzie Foster by hitting into a fielder's choice to give Polk State a 5-4 lead, Holmes followed with a two-run double. She scored on de Lautour's RBI single.
Hillsborough was able to cut the lead to 8-6 on Daijah Maddy's two-run double.
Avery Wende was able to prevent further damage and pick up the win. Only two of the six Hillsborough runs were earned.
Freshman
Layla Hinojosa was able to keep the Hawks off the board with three innings of scoreless relief. She allowed two hits and struck out four to earn the save.
Osborne and Foster each had two hits for the Eagles (20-30, 12-22 Citrus Conference).
Kirsten Aldridge scored twice.
The top three hitters in the Hillsborough lineup accounted for seven of its 11 hits. Belen Gomez was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Bri Smith finished with two RBIs.
Saturday's victories end an eight-game losing streak. The Eagles will look to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when they host a doubleheader against Indian River State College.
