Raiders Fall in Doubleheader

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Northwest Florida State baseball fell in a doubleheader to Pensacola on Friday at the Raider Baseball Complex.

Pensacola 6, Northwest Florida 5 (7 innings)

Pensacola scored five unanswered runs, including two in the top of the seventh to down Northwest Florida in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Raiders got five runs in the first inning before being silenced for the rest of the game. The big blow came off the bat of Carlos Guzman, who launched a grand slam to right field. Cherokee Nichols gave NWF a 5-1 lead later in the frame with a single to left.

Pensacola got a pair of runs in the fourth on a defensive miscue and another in the sixth on a two-out double. The Pirates also struck with two outs in the seventh scoring twice on a 2-2 single.

Guzman finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Austin Kelly was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

NWF starter Dylan DeLucia allowed four runs – two earned – and struck out 10 in 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander now has 107 strikeouts on the season to lead the nation.

Pensacola 4, Northwest Florida 0 (7 innings)

Pensacola's Konner Copeland tossed a three-hit, 12-strikeout shutout in the nightcap.

Copeland did not allow a runner past second base and struck out two batters in every inning except one.

Reagan Burford, Cherokee Nichols, and Austin Kelly collected the only hits of the game for NWF.

The Raiders (28-15, 14-9 PC) will travel to take on Pensacola Saturday at 1 p.m. needing a win to earn a berth in the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament next week.

For more information on Northwest Florida State athletics, visit NWFRaiders.com or follow the team on Twitter at @NWFRaiders.