Raider Softball Sweeps Gulf Coast, Improves to 43-5

PANAMA CITY, FL. - Northwest Florida took the trip to Panama City to take on the Gulf Coast Commodores and came away with 2 huge wins to cushion the Raiders lead atop the Panhandle Conference. The Raiders won the first game 10-7 and second game 11-1. The Raiders improve to 43-5, 10-2 in the Panhandle Conference.

Game 1

Northwest Florida overcame an early deficit after the Raiders committed an error in the first inning, allowing the Commodores to take an early 2-0 lead. The Raiders got on the board in the top of the 3rd, with a leadoff triple from Brilee Broussard, followed by a double from Sydney Stewart. Two batters later, Maycie Hardy's single into center field brought in Stewart to knot the score at 2. The Commodores took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd with a triple of their own and the Raiders took their first lead of the game in the 4th inning with timely hits by Broussard, Stewart and Hardy to put the Raiders up 6-3. Two late home runs by Abigail Pippen increased Northwest Florida's lead to 4 in the 7th inning to help lead the Raiders to the first victory of the night. 

Allison Brunson (10-1) picked up the win for the Raiders as the sophomore righty went the distance, giving up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 7 innings of work. Brunson struck out 6 in the win. After missing just over a month due to injury, Brunson has thrown complete games in the last 2 games, allowing only 10 hits and 3 earned runs in 14 innings, while fanning 13 batters.

Game 2

The Raiders big 4th and 5th inning ended the game early as Northwest Florida run-ruled Gulf Coast 11-1 in 5 innings. Gyvan Hammons gave NWF a 4-run lead in the top of the 4th inning on a single up the middle, bringing in Kamryn Carver and Brilee Broussard to give the Raiders a 5-1 lead. A passed ball scored Hammons to put the Raiders up 5 going to the 5th. In the top of the 5th, a lead-off single by Abigail Pippen, followed by a Sophia Jones walk, allowed Riley Gibson to bring in 2 runs on a double to center field to put NWF up 8-1. Kassidy Hood launched one over the center field fence to go up 10-1 and Maycie Hardy brought in Sydney Stewart a few batters later to put the Raiders up 10. Julia Petty worked around a 2-out triple and a walk to end the game 11-1.

Julia Petty (23-3) was awarded the win in game 2 as the sophomore threw all 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run and striking out 3. Petty has amassed 155 strikeouts this season on 133.2 innings.

Northwest Florida will be back in action on Saturday, April 8th vs. Gulf Coast at 12:00 and 2:00 PM.