Raiders Earn First Win of the Season, Defeating St. Petersburg 8-2 on Friday

CLEARWATER, Florida - In a commanding performance, Northwest Florida State softball secured a resounding 8-2 victory over St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Fla., on Friday marking their first victory of the season.

The Raiders wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with McKayla Ferguson delivering a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning. Expanding their early lead, NWF capitalized on St. Petersburg's error and Ashlyn Shirah's walk in the third inning, each contributing to a run. The Raiders continued their offensive prowess in the fifth inning, courtesy of Ferguson's left-field home run that added three more runs to their tally. The sixth inning saw NWF extending their lead to 8-1, with Kamryn Carver's double and Shirah's center-field homer scoring additional runs.

On the mound, Cailyn Heyl earned the victory for NWF, allowing just two hits and one unearned run over five and two-thirds innings, while striking out three and issuing no walks. Tori Taylor provided solid relief for the Raiders. Ferguson played a pivotal role in NWF's success, leading the team with four runs batted in, going 1-for-3 on the day.

Shirah and Autumn Vessier contributed two hits each to the Raiders' offensive showcase. Displaying discipline at the plate, NWF accumulated six walks, with Hayden Andrews and Christina Mason leading the team with two each. Carver and Andrews showcased their speed with multiple stolen bases, contributing to NWF's impressive total of five stolen bases in the game. Northwest Florida State demonstrated a well-rounded performance, both on the mound and at the plate, securing a decisive victory over St. Petersburg College.