NWF Sweeps Doubleheader with Itawamba

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Northwest Florida State softball improved to 6-0 on Saturday after sweeping their doubleheader with Itawamba Saturday at NWF Softball Complex.

Sister Arnold led the way with four hits, including a pair of home runs and five RBIs. This performance comes after the Freshman Catcher recorded six hits, four home runs, and six RBIs last weekend in Clearwater during the Raiders opening weekend. Arnold now bolsters a .500 batting average with a 1.400 slugging percentage and a .565 on-base percentage in six games this season.

Autumn Vessier also had a solid day at the plate, producing three hits in five at-bats, including a home run in game one against the Tribe. The Raiders pitching was lights out today, only allowing two runs across 10.0 innings of work. Cailyn Hail got the nod in game one of the doubleheader, pitching 5.0 shutout innings, adding five strikeouts, and only giving up four hits. Breana Barnes and Tori Taylor took to the circle in game two, pitching a combined 5.0 innings, striking out two and only giving up two runs.

GAME ONE

The Raiders quickly took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, with Hayden Andrews' sacrifice fly, Britt Bourgoyne's single, Gyvan Hammons' triple, and Sister Arnold's single, each contributing to scoring a run. Arnold added to the lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Two more runs came in the fifth inning, extending the lead to 8-0, courtesy of Autumn Vessier's solo home run and an error that scored another run.

Pitcher Cailyn Heyl secured the win for NWF, pitching five innings, allowing four hits, and striking out five with no runs. Julia Shaw started in the circle for Itawamba Community College SB, conceding six runs and seven hits over three and one-third innings.

Arnold, Hammons, and Vessier each had two hits for the Raiders, with Arnold leading in RBIs. NWF demonstrated patience at the plate, drawing four walks throughout the game. For Itawamba Community College SB, Jessi Smith led the offense with two hits in three at-bats.

GAME TWO

Itawamba struck first in the top of the first inning, with Riley Tyree's double and Emma Rose Thompson's groundout each driving in a run. However, the Raiders quickly turned the game around in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs with just one hit to take a commanding 5-2 lead. The inning's highlight was an error that led to two runs.

NWF added to their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third, courtesy of RBI walks by Autumn Vessier and Madison Stewart. In the fourth inning, the Raiders further extended their lead to 10-2, with Tori Taylor's groundout bringing in one run and Sister Arnold's homer scoring two.

Pitcher Taylor secured the win for the Raiders, allowing no runs over three innings of relief. Breana Barnes started the game, conceding two runs over two innings. Itawamba's Hallie Turner started the game, allowing five runs (one earned) over two innings.

Ashlyn Shirah led NWF with three hits, while Arnold drove in two runs. The team showed discipline at the plate, earning eight walks. Gyvan Hammons, Stewart, and Vessier each drew two walks, and the team stole three bases.

For Itawamba, Jessi Smith and Tyree collected two hits each, with Thompson and Tyree driving in one run apiece.