Raiders Stay Alive with Win Over Seminole, Fall to Santa Fe in Second Elimination Game

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Raiders extended their postseason run with a gritty 1-0 victory over No. 6 Seminole State in Friday's first elimination game, but their time in Clearwater came to an end later that evening with a 9-4 loss to No. 15 Santa Fe.

Cailyn Heyl delivered a dominant performance in the opener, tossing a complete-game shutout to lift Northwest Florida State to a narrow win. The right-hander scattered just two hits while striking out six over seven innings of work.

In the second game, Mallory Baker got the start in the circle but ran into trouble early, allowing four runs (three earned) in just over an inning of work. Bre Barnes took over in relief but surrendered five unearned runs before Heyl returned to the mound to finish out the game. The Raiders offense showed signs of life late but couldn't close the gap.

Game 1 Recap: Raiders 1, Seminole State 0

The Raiders wasted no time getting on the board, scoring the game's only run on a Seminole State error in the first inning. That was all Heyl would need, as she kept the Raiders' season alive with a lights-out performance.

Heyl struck out six and allowed just two hits and one walk over seven shutout innings. Sister Arnold and Hayden Andrews each tallied a hit for Northwest Florida State, while LaRoche and M. Nieves recorded the only hits for Seminole State.

Game 2 Recap: Santa Fe 9, Raiders 4

In a win-or-go-home matchup Friday night, No. 15 Santa Fe used timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to build an early lead and hold off a late push from the Raiders, ending Northwest Florida State's run at the FCSAA State Tournament.

Santa Fe opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Olivia LaMeau ripped an RBI single to bring in Gracie Gilliam. The Saints added three more in the second on back-to-back RBI singles from Karris Rhine and Madi Conway, followed by a Raiders error that allowed another run to cross. In total, Santa Fe plated four runs in the first two frames, jumping on Raiders starter Mallory Baker early.

The Saints continued to put pressure on the basepaths, swiping six bases on the night, including a heads-up steal of home by LaMeau in the third inning that extended the lead to 5-1. Santa Fe capitalized on multiple Raiders errors, scoring five unearned runs throughout the game — a key difference in an otherwise competitive contest.

Falyn Beebe came through with a two-run double to left in the third, trimming the deficit to 4-3. But the Saints responded big in the fourth with four runs, capitalizing on two Raider errors and a pair of doubles to take a 9-3 lead. The Raiders got one back in the sixth thanks to a Saints error, but couldn't tack on more as they go fall 9-4.

Offensively, the Raiders recorded six hits, including knocks from McGowan, Beebe, Lulu Luedtke, Sara Watson, and AJ Vineski. Sister Arnold was a spark at the top of the lineup, reaching base four times with three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Beebe finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.

Cailyn Heyl once again stood out in relief, entering in the fourth and giving the Raiders a chance with 3.2 scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out six and allowed just one hit and two walks in her second appearance of the day.

Santa Fe's Belle Mancillas earned the win out of the bullpen, limiting the Raiders to just one unearned run over 3.2 innings after starter Gracie Gilliam was pulled in the third. Offensively, the Saints were led by Rhine and Conway, who each drove in two, while LaMeau finished with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs — including the daring steal of home that helped swing momentum.

Looking Ahead

Though the Raiders came up short of an automatic bid to the NJCAA Softball World Series in Yuma, Arizona, their season might not be over. Ranked in the top four nationally for much of the year, the Raiders bolstered their resume this week with top-10 wins over No. 4 Indian River and No. 6 Seminole State.

With one final at-large bid up for grabs out of the FCSAA, the Raiders remain firmly in the mix — now, they wait to see if the selection committee agrees.