Northwest Florida Set to Open Postseason Play Wednesday in Clearwater

2025 FCSAA Division I Softball Championship – Opening Round
Matchup: No. 2 Northwest Florida State vs. No. 7 Eastern Florida State
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 9:00 AM (CDT)
Location: Eddie C. Moore Complex – Clearwater, Fla.
Live Stream: FCSAA Digital Network | Tournament Bracket

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Northwest Florida State College softball team will begin its pursuit of a state title on Wednesday morning, facing off against Eastern Florida State College in the opening round of the 2025 FCSAA Division I Softball Championship.

The Raiders enter the tournament as the No. 2 overall seed following a historic regular season that saw the program reach unprecedented heights. Under the leadership of Head Coach Andy Lee, Northwest Florida State concluded the regular season with an overall record of 54–2, including a perfect 20–0 mark in Panhandle Conference play. The Raiders are the first team in Panhandle Conference history to finish the regular season undefeated.

The team's exceptional performance earned it national recognition, with Northwest Florida consistently ranked among the top five in the NJCAA national polls. Statistically, the Raiders rank in the top ten nationally in multiple offensive and defensive categories, including:

• 4th – Home Runs
• 2nd – Team ERA, Shutouts, Opponent Batting Average
• Top 10 – Runs Scored, Walks, Triples, Total Bases, RBIs, Doubles, Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage

Individual Accolades and Honors

Northwest Florida State's roster features a wealth of talent and experience. A program-record six student-athletes were named to the 2025 All-FCSAA Team, including four First Team selections:

• First Team: Cailyn Heyl, Sister Arnold, Falyn Beebe, Lulu Luedke
• Second Team: Mallory Baker, Hailey Henry

Sister Arnold and Cailyn Heyl each repeated as Panhandle Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, with Arnold becoming the first player in program history to be named FCSAA Player of the Year. In total, 10 Raiders earned All-Panhandle Conference honors, a testament to the program's depth and consistency throughout the regular season.

Postseason Aspirations

While the regular season achievements are historic, the Raiders remain focused on achieving postseason success. The program is in search of its first FCSAA State Championship and NJCAA National Title. Northwest Florida has finished as State Runner-Up in each of the past two seasons and made deep runs at the national level — including a runner-up finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in 2023 and a Final Four appearance in 2024.

With a veteran roster and a proven track record of postseason success, the Raiders enter this year's tournament with high expectations.

Scouting the Opponent: Eastern Florida State College

Northwest Florida State opens postseason play against Eastern Florida State College, the No. 7 seed in the tournament and the 17th-ranked team in the latest NJCAA national poll. The Titans compiled a 38–17 overall record and finished fifth in the Citrus Conference.

The two programs last met in the 2024 FCSAA State Second-Place Game, where the Raiders defeated the Titans 9–2 to punch their ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Eastern Florida enters this year's tournament with a balanced roster and several standout contributors, both at the plate and in the field.

Offensive Leaders
Sophomore Ashley Grieser has been one of the Titans' most consistent offensive threats, batting .314 on the season with a team-best four triples. Fellow sophomore Ashley Corazzini, the team's second baseman, is hitting .310, has recorded 15 doubles, and crossed the plate 46 times this season.

In the outfield, Kayla Fanning has made an impact both defensively and on the basepaths. She has provided several highlight-reel plays in left field while also swiping 12 bases.

Freshman Standouts
Eastern Florida's postseason run is anchored by an impressive freshman class, led by Avery Velazquez and Aracelis Jimenez, both of whom earned All-State honors.

Velazquez, named to the First Team All-FCSAA, was also selected as the Citrus Conference North Player of the Year. She boasts a .414 batting average with 22 doubles and 65 RBIs, and has also excelled in the circle. As the team's ace, Velazquez owns a 23–5 record with a 1.14 ERA, striking out 173 batters over 208.1 innings.

Jimenez has served as the Titans' leadoff hitter and starting centerfielder, hitting .379 with a team-high 23 stolen bases. She was named First Team All-Conference, along with fellow freshman Jessica Merk, who enters the postseason hitting .370 with 16 doubles and three home runs.

Fans can watch the tournament opener live and free of charge on the FCSAA Digital Network. Tickets are available through ETix or at the gate.

For more information on Raider Softball and postseason coverage, visit NWF Athletics or follow @NWFRaider_SB on social media.