Sydney Stewart Walk Off sends Raiders to Round 2

OXFORD, AL. - Sydney Stewart does it again for the Raiders as she hit her second walk-off home run this season, this time in the first round of the NJCAA National Tournament as Northwest Florida beat Eastern Arizona 5-3.

The nerves showed early for Northwest Florida as the Raiders committed 3 errors in the top half of the first inning but, Alli Brunson was able to overcome those errors and keep the damage to a minumum by allowing 1 run. The Raiders answered back in the bottom half of the second inning with a 2 RBI double from Kassidy Hood to go up 2-1. 

Eastern Arizona pulled off a delayed steal with runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs and held up the runner long enough on first base to allow the runner on 3rd to tie the game at 2 in the 4th inning. Brilee Broussard answered the call in the 4th with a single up the middle to bring in Riley Gibson to put the Raiders back on top 3-2. 

A few hits in the 5th inning tied the game at 3 of the Gila monsters but, Julia Petty came in and struck out the last two batters to hold runners on 1st and 3rd. The 6th inning battle from Petty took the wind out of the Gila Monsters' sails as 2 walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. Petty forced a ground ball back to the pitcher from the 2 hitter in the lineup and got the runner out at home and then struck out the 3 and 4 hole to keep Eastern Arizona from taking the lead.

In the 7th inning, Brilee Broussard beat out a throw from the shortstop to get the Raiders some confidence and Sydney Stewart blasted one over the center field fence to give the Raiders an exhilarating 5-3 victory over #12 Eastern Arizona.

Northwest Florida will be back in action today at 2:00 PM vs. #4 seed Walters State.