Red Hot Raiders Pick Up Two More Wins

NICEVILLE, Fla. - The Northwest Florida softball team is rolling this season, picking up two more wins today vs. Enterprise State to improve to 19-2 on the year. The Raiders are firing on all cylinders with dominant pitching, a great defense, and red hot bats. 

Julia Petty started the first game of the double header vs. Enterprise State today, shutting down the Boll Weevils. Petty threw a complete game, giving up only 4 hits and striking out 6. The Raiders struggled early on to score, until the bottom of the 4th inning when Riley Gibson broke the tie on a 2-run home run to give NWF a 3-1 lead. In the 5th inning, Layla Thompson laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought in Abigail Pippen to give Petty and the Raiders another insurance run. Petty improves to 8-1 on the year, sporting a 2.81 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched.

In game 2 of this afternoon's matchup, the Raiders bats came alive, defeating Enterprise State 8-0 in a run rule, 6-inning game. Reigning Region VIII Pitcher of the Week Rycca Hinton threw her fourth consecutive complete game, only allowing 3 hits and striking out 4. The Raiders compiled 15 hits, led by reigning Region VIII Player of the Week Abigail Pippen, who went 3-4 at the plate. Gyvan Hammons tallied 3 hits as well. 4 Raiders hit home runs tonight with Sydney Stewart leading off the scoring train tonight with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd inning, followed by Riley Gibson poking one out two batters later to give the Raiders a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th, Rani Meaux led off the inning with a home run, followed by Kamryn Carver hitting a solo shot. In the 6th inning, freshman outfielder Sophia Jones hit a ball up the middle scoring Stewart and Hammons to walk it off in an 8-0 victory.

The Raiders will travel to Oxford, Alabama on Friday and Saturday for a tournament before coming back home to take on Coastal Alabama - East on February 28th. Be sure to come out and watch your Raider Softball team!