Raiders Slip Past Shelton State, 4-3

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Trace Willhoite continued to cash in with runners on base and the pitching staff again stood strong as No. 4 Northwest Florida edged Shelton State, 4-3, Thursday at the Raider Baseball Complex.

The Raiders (11-3) scored three runs in the fifth to take the lead and the pitching staff responded with four shutout innings to secure the victory.

Willhoite singled home Nic Nolan in the first to open the scoring. Shelton State tied the game in the third then took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth.

Willhoite struck again in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single. One bater later Justice Thompson tripled to tie the game and Zach McKnight followed with a single to drive home the go-ahead run.

Starter Jacob Kush tossed six innings allowing one earned run on five hits. Thomas Wilhite was lights out fanning six batters and allowing just one hit in three innings of relief to pick up the save.

Northwest Florida is back in action Friday against Shelton State at 2 p.m.

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