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Freshman Nate Fagan delivered Thursday in the game’s biggest moment, driving a two-out single to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Polk County a thrilling 7-6 victory over East Henderson in non-conference baseball action.

The game-winning hit capped a tense final sequence that began with Alex Perry’s single to center field. After Mark Jarrett moved Perry to second with a sacrifice bunt, Aaden Denton reached base when East Henderson’s throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.

The Eagles then intentionally walked Gunnar Alm to load the bases, setting the stage for Fagan’s heroics as his line drive to center field allowed Perry to race home with the decisive run.

Alm dominated at the plate for Polk County (4-2), producing a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included two solo home runs. The junior blasted a leadoff homer to right field in the first inning and added another shot to center in the third. Alm also manufactured a run in the pivotal fifth inning, singling before stealing both second and third base, then scoring on Fagan’s single.

East Henderson (0-7) built a 4-1 advantage with a four-run outburst in the second inning, but the Wolverines surged ahead with four runs in the fifth. Jarrett delivered the inning’s crucial blow, drilling a two-out triple to center field that plated two runs and gave Polk County a 6-5 lead.

Fagan pulled double duty for the Wolverines, working five innings on the mound while allowing seven hits and striking out four. Denton earned the win with two innings of relief, surrendering just one hit and one run.

Perry added two hits and scored twice while Noah Harden, Mason Beiler, Avrey Hensley, Jarrett, Denton and Zalen McCraw each had one hit for Polk County, which was set to return to action Friday, hosting R-S Central in a Mountain Foothills 7 Conference matchup.