Raiders Come Up Short in National Title Game

OXFORD, AL - Northwest Florida came up a little short against the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers in the NJCAA National Championship game, falling 10-6 on Saturday afternoon.

Layla Thompson got the scoring started for the Raiders in the title game, hitting a 2-run home run off the scoreboard in the top half of the first inning to give the Raiders an early lead. However, Feline Poot for FSW tied it up in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 2. In the second inning, the Buccaneers pulled away a large lead that the Raiders were unable to overcome as FSW put up 6 runs to take an 8-2 lead. Poot connected on her second home run of the night, another 2 run homer.

However, Northwest Florida did not go away easily as Sydney Stewart was able to score on a Brilee Broussard ground out to make it an 8-3 game and Riley Gibson brought in Layla Thompson to cut the deficit to 4 in the 3rd inning. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Feline Poot blasted one out to right field for her 3rd 2-run home run of the game. Poot finished the night with 6 RBIs. In the 5th, Riley Gibson homered to center field, bringing in Brilee Broussard to make it a 10-6 ballgame but, the Raiders were unable to score the rest of the game.

Layla Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Tournament Player and Julia Petty, Gyvan Hammons, and Layla Thompson were named to the All-Tournament team.

Northwest Florida ends the season 57-11 and National Runner-Up. The Raiders broke many school records this season including most wins (57), team batting average (0.352), runs scored (515), RBIs (472), doubles (129), home runs (92), total bases (1015), and hits (646). Sydney Stewart also set the individual doubles record with 22 and Gyvan Hammons set the stolen bases record with 39 on the year.