Raiders Split Thursday Doubleheader in Panama City

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — No. 20 Northwest Florida State baseball earned a split Thursday in Panama City, opening the day with a win over No. 12 John A. Logan before dropping an extra-inning contest to No. 8 Florence-Darlington.

The Raiders' offense set the tone in game one, scoring seven runs on nine hits, including three extra-base hits. Orlando Fernandez and Anthony Quigley powered the lineup, combining for five hits. Quigley drove in four runs with a first-inning grand slam to dead center, while Fernandez finished as the team's leading hitter with three hits. Quigley totaled five RBIs on the day.

Game two turned into a pitching duel early, as Brooks Mueller and Bradley Garrett combined to shut out Florence-Darlington through the first five innings. The Stingers broke through in the sixth to tie the game before pulling away with four runs in the eighth.

Game One: Northwest Florida 7, John A. Logan 6

Northwest Florida struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning as Orlando Fernandez drove in a run with a single before Anthony Quigley launched a grand slam to center field.

John A. Logan responded with a run in the second and pulled closer in the third, using a pair of home runs to plate three runs and trim the deficit to 5–4.

The Raiders answered right back in the bottom of the third. Brock Clayton doubled down the right-field line and Tristan Bittle followed with an RBI single to center, extending the lead to 7–4.

The Vols continued to chip away, scoring on an RBI triple in the fifth and a solo home run in the sixth to make it a one-run game. John A. Logan threatened again in the seventh, loading the bases, but Anthony St. Vincent worked out of the jam to preserve the victory.

Tucker Delisle earned the start for Northwest Florida, allowing six hits and four runs over 2.2 innings while striking out five. St. Vincent was strong in relief, tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout. The Raiders finished with nine hits, stole three bases, and saw Quigley and Fernandez collect two hits apiece.

Game Two: Florence-Darlington 5, Northwest Florida 1 (8 innings)

Northwest Florida opened the scoring in the fourth inning as Quigley drove in a run with a groundout.

Florence-Darlington threatened in the third after loading the bases with no outs, but Brooks Mueller escaped the inning by inducing a strikeout, groundout, and strikeout to strand all three runners.

The Raiders had a chance to add on in the fifth when the first two batters reached on singles, but both runners were thrown out on the base paths, ending the threat.

The Stingers tied the game in the sixth and broke it open in the eighth, scoring four runs highlighted by a two-run home run to center field.

Mueller was sharp in his start, throwing three hitless innings with six strikeouts. Bradley Garrett followed with four strong innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out six. Florence-Darlington's pitching staff limited the Raiders to one run as the Stingers pulled away late.