Late Score Lifts Odessa over Northwest Florida

OXFORD, AL. -  The Raiders suffered their first loss in the National Tournament, falling 6-4 vs. #1 seed Odessa. Northwest Florida will take the field again tonight at 8:00 PM in an elimination game.

Northwest Florida couldn't have started the game out any better as they put up 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning with a single from Layla Thompson that brought in Sydney Stewart. Two batters later, Sophia Jones beat out a ball to shortstop that brought in Gyvan Hammons and Thompson to put the Raiders up 3-0. A sac fly from Odessa in the first was the only scoring for the Wranglers and Northwest Florida was ahead 3-1 after 1 inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Odessa tied it up with a 2-run HR and then took a 4-3 lead with a solo home run in the 4th inning. The Raiders kept fighting and tied it up with a Maycie Hardy single that scored Sydney Stewart.

The Raiders were in prime position to take the lead in the 6th inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Odessa struck out Kassidy Hood and then walked Brilee Broussard to load the bases. Sydney Stewart came up and lined out to left field, leaving 3 runners on base. 

Odessa used that momentum in the bottom of the 6th with a double down the third base line that hit the bag and the Wranglers were knocking on the door with runners at 2nd and 3rd. A bloop single into right field put Odessa ahead 6-4 and the Raiders could not get anything going in the 7th to suffer their first loss of the tournament.

Northwest Florida will be back in action tonight, May 25th at 8:00 PM vs. TBD.