Raiders Split Another Pair of Games on Saturday in Oxford

OXFORD, Ala. — Northwest Florida State softball split another pair of games on Saturday, falling in game one to No. 14 Indian Hills and defeating Blinn. The losses marks the Raiders second in as many days, bringing them to a 22-2 record after beginning the season 20-0.

The day kicked off with a narrow 5-4 defeat against the formidable No. 14-ranked Indian Hills. Despite holding multiple leads throughout the game, the Raiders found themselves evenly matched against a resilient Warriors squad. However, they quickly regrouped for the second game, securing a convincing 9-1 victory over Blinn. Sister Arnold led the offensive charge with two home runs, bringing her season total to ten, while the rest of the lineup exploded for an impressive 13 hits.

GAME ONE (vs. Indian Hills)

Northwest Florida State battled hard until the final inning, but Indian Hills Warriors surged ahead for a 5-4 victory on Saturday. The game remained deadlocked at four runs apiece until the bottom of the fifth when Sara Reid's clutch single brought in the winning run.

The scoring started early with the Raiders taking the lead in the first inning courtesy of a Christina Mason RBI single. However, the Warriors quickly responded in the second with Yarah Zuiver's sacrifice fly, evening the score. In the third inning, Indian Hills edged ahead again, benefiting from Hannah Simpson's double and a defensive error by Northwest Florida.

But the game took another turn in the fourth inning as the Raiders rallied to seize the lead. Ashlyn Shirah's single brought in one run, followed by an error that allowed two more runs to score.Yet, the Warriors staged a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on defensive mistakes and Reid's timely hit to retake the lead.

Ashlynn Sheets secured the win for Indian Hills in the circle, while Tori Taylor took the loss for Northwest Florida. Mason led the offensive charge for the Raiders with a pair of hits, while Shirah and Mason each contributed an RBI.

Both teams displayed aggressive baserunning, with Northwest Florida State tallying four stolen bases and Indian Hills Warriors collecting three.

GAME TWO (vs. Blinn)

Sister Arnold's explosive performance powered Northwest Florida to a commanding 9-1 victory over the Blinn College Buccaneers on Saturday. Arnold showcased her hitting prowess with home runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, driving in a total of five runs.

The game turned decisively in the Raiders' favor with a five-run onslaught in the fourth inning. Arnold's center-field homer accounted for three of those runs, while Sophia Jones's single and Kamryn Carver's sacrifice fly each contributed to the scoring. Gyvan Hammons got Northwest Florida on the scoreboard earlier with a timely single in the second inning. Arnold continued her offensive outburst with a two-run blast to left field in the fifth inning.

On the mound, Cailyn Heyl delivered another stellar performance for the Raiders, allowing just one run on six hits over six innings while striking out eight. For the Buccaneers, Paige Bunting started in the circle and endured a challenging outing, conceding six runs over four innings.

The Raiders' offense was firing on all cylinders, amassing 13 hits in the game. Carver and Hammons led the charge with three hits apiece. The team exhibited patience at the plate, drawing six walks, with Ashlyn Shirah and McKayla Ferguson each earning two. Carver also showcased her speed with two stolen bases.

Defensively, Northwest Florida was flawless, not committing a single error and turning one double play. Autumn Vessier was solid in the field, handling the most chances with nine.