Softball team sweeps Polk State on the road
The Eastern Florida State College softball team continued its push for a postseason berth on Tuesday evening, sweeping Polk State College on the road.
The 17th ranked Titans improved to 21-13 in the Citrus Conference after picking up 8-2 and 8-4 victories against the Eagles.
Eastern Florida State College has now won 12 of the past 14 games and have moved into third place heading into a big weekend of conference games.
Down 2-1 in the sixth inning of the first game, Jessica Merk came to the plate with the bases loaded and blasted a ball to center field that cleared the wall and gave the Titans a 5-2 lead. The home run was Merk's second of the season.
The Titans would add three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 8-2 win.
Avery Velazquez got the start and allowed just two runs in her 21st complete game, striking out 10 hitters. It is the second time this season Velazquez has struck out 10 hitters in a game.
Aracelis Jimenez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Isabel Otero, Velazquez, Merk and Ashley Corazzini each had two hits as the Titans finished with 12 hits.
The Titans got off to fast start in the second game as Jimenez singled and would score on Otero's single to give EFSC a 1-0 lead after two hitters.
In the third inning Velazquez hammered a three-run home run to left field to give the Titans a 4-0 lead. They would add a run in the fourth inning to make it 5-0.
Alanna O'Brien got the start in the second game and tossed three scoreless innings until Silvia Franzoni hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Jimenez once again came up clutch for the Titans with an RBI single in the sixth to make it 6-1.
Polk State College would cut into the lead as Chelsi Herbert hit another home run against the Titans, this time a two-run home run to make it 6-3.
A couple of runs in the top of the seventh put the game away for the Titans.
O'Brien picked up her third win with Velazquez pitching the final 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts for her FCSAA-leading fifth save.
Jimenez had four hits and drive in two runs while Velazquez was 2-for-3 with three RBI and scored twice.
Eastern Florida State College will travel to No. 2 Florida Southwestern for a conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. They will be home on Monday evening for the final home game of the season, hosting No. 3 Indian River State College for a conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.