Softball earns a split on the road at Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, FL - It was March 30 the last time the Raider softball team had taken the field thanks to the inclement weather over the past week mixed in with a scheduled BYE in the conference rotation.  Despite practicing intensely and scrimmaging each other, NWF entered their road doubleheader at TCC with a bit of uncertainty as to how sharp and crisp they would be after such a long layoff in the middle of league play. While the offense proved to be a bit rusty, the pitching was able to carry the day and allow the Raiders to escape Tallahassee with a split, dropping game one, 2-1, and winning game two, 4-3, in extra innings.

Game one was a pitchers dual the entire seven innings.  Neither team could muster any rallies together against the opposing pitcher. The Raiders were able to grab a 1-0 lead behind a Sydney Stewart solo homerun in the top of the third inning.  Unfortunately for Northwest Florida, however, that was one of only four hits and the Raiders could not plate any other runs the rest of the game despite several opportunities.  

Allison Brunson took the loss for NWF but pitched a great game, allowing only two earned runs and just two hits the entire contest.

In the nightcap, it seemed as if it was merely an extension of game one.  Both pitching staffs were dominant.  For the Raiders, starting pitcher Alexis Wadsworth was very effective and her only blemish was the bottom of the second inning when she gave up two runs, only one of which was earned.

NWF, down 2-0 after two innings, kept the Eagles at arm's length with pitching and defense the rest of regulation. That paved the way for the offense to chip away at the TCC lead, which they did by scoring one run each in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game 2-2. Each run for the Raiders came via solo homeruns by Gracie Bellard and Gabby Fischetti.

In extra innings, Northwest Florida continued to ride the stellar pitching by reliever Julia Petty.  Petty entered the game in the fifth inning and shut down the Eagles the rest of the way.  In the top of the tenth, the Raiders plated two runs to take the 4-2 lead.  In the bottom of the frame, TCC threatened with baserunners but a stellar 4-6-3 double play to end the game sealed the win for the Raiders.

Northwest Florida now moves to 36-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play.  They will next be in action at home on Friday, April 15 when they host Gulf Coast State College in a doubleheader beginnning at 1:00 PM.

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