Northwest Florida Clinches Third Straight Panhandle Conference Title with Sweep at Chipola

MARIANNA, Fla. — For the third straight season, the Northwest Florida State softball team, led by head coach Andy Lee, is the Panhandle Conference Champion. The Raiders extended their win streak to 34 games and improved to 50-2 on the year after a dominant doubleheader sweep of Chipola on Wednesday.

Northwest opened the day with a 6-3 win in Game One, followed by a 5-0 shutout in Game Two. The sweep capped a perfect 16-0 run through conference play and pushed the Raiders' conference win streak to 28 games dating back to last season. Over the course of their three-year title run, the Raiders boast an impressive 50-6 mark in Panhandle competition.

With the title secured, Northwest Florida has earned an automatic bid to the FCSAA State Tournament, set for May 6-10 in Clearwater, Fla. at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Raiders become the first team to punch their ticket as they look to capture the first state title in program history.

GAME ONE: Northwest Florida Tops Chipola 6-3

Northwest Florida opened Wednesday's doubleheader with a 6-3 victory over Chipola College, fueled by a strong offensive showing and a solid start in the circle.

The Raiders struck first in the top of the first inning when Lulu Luedtke delivered an RBI double. Chipola responded quickly in the bottom half, taking a 2-1 lead behind an RBI single from Diana Arcay and a groundout from Kamryn Eaton that brought in another run.

Northwest Florida regained control in the second inning. Bre Hughes drove in two runs with a triple, and Karson McGowan followed with an RBI single to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Cailyn Heyl earned the complete-game win for the Raiders, allowing just three hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out six and walking one. Chipola's Hannah Worthington took the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits over three innings.

Hughes led the Raiders at the plate, going 2-for-3. The team totaled seven walks and three stolen bases, showcasing patience and aggressiveness. Defensively, the Raiders were flawless, committing no errors.

Anyela Ruiz went 2-for-3 for Chipola and added a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. Arcay, Ruiz, and Eaton each drove in one run for the Lady Indians, who also played error-free defense.

GAME TWO: Raiders Complete Sweep with 5-0 Shutout

Northwest Florida State capped the doubleheader with a dominant 5-0 shutout over Chipola in Game Two, completing the season sweep and securing the Panhandle Conference title.

Bre Hughes once again sparked the offense with a two-run single in the second inning. The Raiders added insurance runs while capitalizing on six walks and five stolen bases throughout the contest.

Mallory Baker was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts, no walks, and just three hits allowed. Anyela Ruiz started for Chipola and was tagged for five runs (three earned) on three hits and six walks in three innings.

Hughes led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, while both Haley Hughes and Hughes each swiped multiple bags. Northwest Florida also turned a double play and played error-free defense for the second game in a row. Lulu Luedtke had a team-high nine chances in the field.

Chipola managed just three hits, one each from Irene Rabasco, Keara Millender, and Kamryn Eaton.