Raiders Walk-Off with Win over San Jac, Split Friday Games

NICEVILLE, Fla. – In a classic pitcher's duel, Trace Willhoite drove home the only run of the night, enough to lift Northwest Florida baseball to a 1-0 victory over San Jacinto Friday at the Raider Baseball Complex. The Raiders fell to Motlow State, 6-3, in the first game of the day.

Northwest Florida 1, San Jacinto 0

With runners on the corner and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Willhoite lofted a fly ball into right field and Justice Thompson, who singled to start the inning, tagged from third to score the winning run.

Beck Way and Dylan DeLucia combined to shutout the Gators. The duo did not allow a hit until the ninth inning. Way struck out six batters in four innings of work, while DeLucia earned the victory fanning nine over five frames.

The Raiders (3-2) were kept quiet for most of the night as well but threatened in the eighth. Layton Pickney walked with two outs and Brock Franks doubled to extend the inning. Nic Nolan laced a groundball into the hole on the right side of the infield but the throw narrowly beat him to the bag.

San Jacinto's Mitchell Parker got the start and went five innings, struck on 12, and allowed just one hit.

Motlow State 6, Northwest Florida 3

Motlow State struck for five runs in the second inning en route to the 6-3 win to kick off the day.

In the second, Matt Young hit a two-run home run to open the scoring and the Bucks followed with five consecutive hits to expand their lead.

Northwest Florida got on the board in the bottom half of the third on a Nolan RBI single. Three batters later, Thompson drove in a another run with a sacrifice fly.

For more information on Northwest Florida athletics, visit NWFRaiders.com or follow us on Twitter at @NWF_Raiders.