Northwest Florida’s Season Comes to a Close with 5-3 Loss to State College of Florida

TAMPA, Fla. — Northwest Florida Baseball's 2026 season came to an end Saturday afternoon following a 5-3 loss to State College of Florida in an elimination game at the FCSAA Championship.

The Raiders found themselves trailing early after State College of Florida built a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. Northwest Florida responded by battling back to tie the game at 3-3 by the fourth inning, but the Manatees answered with two runs in the sixth and held the Raiders scoreless the rest of the way to secure the win.

Aiden Torrez got the start on the mound for Northwest Florida, allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) across five innings while striking out three and walking one. Riley McDonald earned the win for State College of Florida, tossing eight innings while surrendering seven hits and three runs (two earned), striking out 11 and issuing four walks.

Anthony Quigley led the Raider offense, driving in two runs while going 1-for-4 at the plate.

State College of Florida struck first in the second inning with a two-run homer before adding another run in the third on an RBI double to take a 3-0 lead.

Northwest Florida answered in the bottom of the third when Quigley launched a two-run homer to left field, scoring Orlando Fernandez and cutting the deficit to one. The Raiders tied the game an inning later as Fernandez delivered an RBI double to left, plating Joe Cable.

The Manatees regained control in the sixth, capitalizing on a Raider error to score the go-ahead run before adding an insurance run on an RBI single to center field.

The loss not only marks the end of Northwest Florida's season, but also closes the book on the legendary career of head coach Doug Martin, who concludes his 18th and final season with the Raiders. Martin retires with 576 career wins, a .650 winning percentage, 11 postseason appearances, two NJCAA World Series berths, and one national championship.

Martin leaves behind a lasting legacy at Northwest Florida, building a championship culture and establishing himself as one of the premier coaches in junior college baseball history.