Raiders Rally Late to Claim Series Win, Advance to FCSAA Championship Final Four

OCALA, Fla. — Northwest Florida baseball is headed back to Tampa.

After battling through weather delays and a frustrating loss in Game 2 earlier Sunday, the Raiders responded in emphatic fashion, erupting for 14 runs over the final three innings to defeat Central Florida in Game 3 and clinch the series victory, punching their ticket to the FCSAA Championship Final Four next weekend.

Saturday's weather forced Game 2 to be suspended in the fifth inning and resumed Sunday afternoon. Northwest Florida was unable to complete the comeback in that contest, falling 12-4 and forcing a decisive winner-take-all Game 3 shortly after.

Central Florida grabbed momentum early, taking a 1-0 lead before extending its advantage to 4-0 in the fifth inning on a three-run homer. But the Raiders quickly flipped the script.

Northwest Florida broke through in the sixth, plating five runs on three hits to take a 5-4 lead. The inning was highlighted by a costly Patriot error that brought home two runs and shifted momentum firmly in the Raiders' favor.

The offense continued its surge in the seventh, scoring five more runs on four hits. Brock Clayton delivered an RBI single, Nathan Nance added an RBI double, and Xavier Rivera came through with a two-run double to push the lead further.

The Raiders put the finishing touches on the win in the eighth, adding four more runs behind an RBI single from Nance, a bases-loaded walk drawn by Tristan King, and another RBI double from Rivera to effectively put the game out of reach.

Aiden Torrez got the start for Northwest Florida, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits across five innings. Tucker Delisle was outstanding in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings to help seal the victory.

Northwest Florida totaled 12 hits in the win, led by Rivera's four RBIs in a 2-for-2 performance. Anthony Quigley collected three hits, while Orlando Fernandez, Nance, and Clayton each recorded multi-hit games. The Raiders also showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks, stealing four bases, and turning two double plays while playing error-free defense.

With the win, Northwest Florida advances to the FCSAA Championship Final Four and will face familiar foe No. 4 Chipola on Friday at 4 p.m. (CDT) at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The tournament now shifts back to a double-elimination format.