Raiders' Offensive Onslaught Continues with Two Dominate Victories on Saturday

YOUNGSVILLE, La. — If you thought Northwest Florida Softball's 22-run performance on Friday was impressive, Saturday's offensive explosion took it to another level. The Raiders erupted for 28 runs, securing two dominant wins over Alvin College and Lamar State-Port Arthur.

The day began with an 8-0 shutout against Alvin, as Sister Arnold and Hailey Henry led the charge with two hits each. Meanwhile, veteran pitcher Cailyn Heyl delivered another stellar performance on the mound.

In game two, freshmen Falyn Beebe and Mary Owens took center stage, combining for 11 RBIs in the Raiders' commanding 20-4 victory.

Now 6-0 on the season, the Raiders have racked up an astounding 83 runs through their first six games—including 50 in the last two days alone.

GAME 1 vs. ALVIN COLLEGE

Northwest Florida State dominated Alvin College in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, securing an 8-0 victory.

The Raiders took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on an error by the Dolphins' shortstop. They broke the game open in the third, adding four runs with three RBI doubles from Sister Arnold, Hailey Henry, and Haley Hughes.

The scoring continued in the fourth as Sara Watson drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by a sacrifice fly from Julie Stevens, extending the Raiders' lead to 7-0. Hailey Henry sealed the win in the fifth with a single to shortstop, bringing home Sister Arnold and securing the 8-0 run-rule victory.

Pitching Highlights

Cailyn Heyl secured the win, delivering a stellar performance on the mound. She allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings, striking out two without issuing a walk. Alvin's Sophie Brammer took the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on three hits over two innings while striking out two and walking two.

Offensive Leaders

Henry and Arnold were a dynamic duo at the plate, each collecting a pair of hits. Hughes and Henry drove in two runs apiece, while Sara Watson contributed with two walks. The Raiders displayed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks in total. They also showcased aggressive baserunning, swiping three stolen bases.

GAME 2 vs. LAMAR STATE-PORT ARTHUR

Falyn Beebe delivered a standout performance, driving in six runs on two hits to propel Northwest Florida State to a commanding 20-4 win over Lamar State in game two. Beebe got things rolling early with a three-run double in the first inning and later crushed a three-run homer to center in the fifth.

The Raiders wasted no time getting on the board in the first, capitalizing on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Sara Watson and another by Haley Hughes. Beebe's bases-clearing double and an RBI triple from AJ Vineski helped Northwest Florida jump out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning.

The offensive surge continued in the second, with Anastasia Acree bringing in a run on a sacrifice fly and Lulu Luedtke adding an RBI single to left.

In the third, the Raiders tacked on six more runs on three hits. Mary Owens delivered a bases clearing three-run double, Acree's fielder's choice plated another, and Luedtke smashed a two-run homer to center giving the Raiders a commanding 14-0 edge.

The Raiders capped the victory in the fifth with another six-run inning. Mackenzie Boullon knocked in a run with a single, Beebe launched her three-run home run, and Owens laced a two-run double to center, putting the Raiders at 20 runs for the game.

Pitching Highlights

Bre Barnes earned the win, tossing two hitless innings while striking out two. Marissa Gonzales took the loss for Lamar State, allowing 10 runs on seven hits over two innings. Aj Vineski also saw time in the circle for the Raiders. She tossed 3.0 innings in relief, surrounding just three earned runs, one six hits with four strikeouts.

Offensive Leaders

The Raiders exploded for 17 hits, with Luedtke and Vineski leading the charge with three apiece. Owens and Beebe each contributed two hits, combining for an impressive 11 RBIs. Hayden Andrews displayed patience at the plate, drawing three walks, while the team as a whole showed great discipline, earning seven free passes in total.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to Louisiana tomorrow for a matchup against UA Rich Mountain at 10:00 a.m. (CST). Next weekend, they head to Panama City for the PCB Juco Showdown, where they are set to compete in four games before returning home on February 11 for back-to-back doubleheaders against Coastal Alabama-South and Enterprise.