Raider Softball Clinches Panhandle Conference Championship

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Raider softball team clinched their first Panhandle Conference championship since 2016 with the 5-0 win over Pensacola State on Saturday. Northwest Florida will be heading down to Clermont, Florida for the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Championship. This marks the first time the Raiders are in the state tournament since 2017.

It was a dominant performance from Allison Brunson as the sophomore went the distance in the regular season finale. Brunson allowed 6 hits on the afternoon and struck out 3. Pensacola never threatened to score throughout the entire game other than the 2nd inning with bases loaded and 2 outs but, Brunson forced a ground ball to shortstop Kassidy Hood to keep the Pirates from scoring.

The Raider offense put up a crooked number early on as Sydney Stewart led the game off with a single and Gyvan Hammons' double into right field brought Stewart home to put NWF up 1-0. In the 3rd inning, Hammons recorded her second hit of the day with a 2-out single to left field and Maycie Hardy ripped a double into center field to bring in Hammons and put the Raiders up 2. In the 6th, Layla Thompson picked up a single and Abigail Pippen dropped a dagger on the Pirates, driving one into deep center field to put the Raiders up 4-0. In the 7th, Kassidy Hood led the inning off with a double and with a sac bunt by Brilee Broussard, Kassidy Hood moved over to 3rd. Sydney Stewart grounded out to 2nd base, bringing in Hood to finish the game out 5-0.  

Northwest Florida finishes the regular season 49-8, 15-5 in Panhandle play. The Raiders will face Hillsborough in the first round of the Region 8 Tournament on May 5th at 4:00 PM (EST).