OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The College of Central Florida Patriots (31-18, 21-9) lost their Citrus Conference series to the Polk State College Eagles (29-21, 15-15) 2 games to 1 but held on to a slim one game lead in the conference with only one weekend remaining in the regular season. The Pats are looking to win the conference and get the opportunity to play a first-round regional at home in Ocala the weekend of May 1-3.
CF opened the three-game series on Thursday, April 16th, 2026 with a 5-3 loss to the Eagles at Goodlett Field in Ocala. The Pats found themselves down 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning when an Eagle error, a double by Amaury DeJesus and a sac fly by Gio Mendoza got CF within a run. Jose Correa’s double drove home DeJesus to tie the game at 3-3. Polk State, who is fighting to make the final playoff spot, fought back to retake the lead in the top of the ninth inning 5-3 on a two-out single by Jack Muller. Aiden Dolan earned the win for the Eagles, throwing 1.1 innings of shutout baseball. The Pats’ Mendoza finished the day 3 for 3.
CF hit the road on Saturday, April 18th and won game one of the doubleheader 6-1 over the Eagles in Winter Haven. Kaiden Lopez (5-0) tossed a complete seven-inning gem. Lopez allowed only four hits, one run, three walks, with seven strikeouts. Ignacio Salaverria (3-3, 2R, RBI), Bruno Schafer (2-3, RBI), Balint Piros (2-4, 2 RBI), Talan Beckford (3-3, HR#5, RBI) led the offense for the Pats.
In the final game of the day and the series Polk State pitchers held CF to only five hits in the 7-3 Eagles win. Polk State starter Ron Causby earned the win going six innings allowing three runs with seven strikeouts. Two relief pitchers tossed the final three innings allowing no runs and no hits. All the offense CF could muster was on Victor Martinez’s 11th homerun and Balint Piros’s 2nd homerun of the season.
The Patriots can clinch the conference championship by winning this weekend’s series with the Indian River State College Pioneers. The first two games will be played on Friday, April 24th in Ocala (Noon, 3:00 PM), while game three will be on Saturday, April 25th in Ft. Pierce, (2:00 PM). Come out and support the Patriots! All games are free to the public.