Northwest Florida Opens Weekend with Pair of Run-Rule Wins

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State Raiders softball opened its busy homestand Thursday in typical fashion, sweeping a doubleheader against Snow College Badgers with run-rule victories, 11–3 and 12–2.

Game One: Northwest Florida 11, Snow 3

Northwest Florida wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Bre Hughes launched a solo home run to center before Falyn Beebe followed with an RBI single to right, giving the Raiders an early 2–0 edge.

The Raiders added another run in the second when Haley Hughes doubled down the left-field line. Snow responded in the top of the third, using a groundout and a solo home run to knot the game at three.

Northwest Florida answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Isabelle Warrick delivered a two-run single to break the tie, and a bases-loaded walk to Haley Hughes extended the lead to 6–3. The Raiders put the game out of reach in the fourth, erupting for five runs on five hits. Warrick drove in two more with a single, Bre Hughes added an RBI knock, and Haley Hughes capped the inning with a two-run single.

Marlee Parsons earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs on four hits over five innings while striking out six and walking one.

Haley Hughes, Warrick, Bre Hughes, and Beebe each recorded two hits. Haley Hughes and Warrick drove in four runs apiece, while the Raiders showed discipline at the plate, drawing seven walks. Julie Stevens and Ana Grace Griggs led the way with two walks each.

Game Two: Northwest Florida 12, Snow 2

Northwest Florida jumped ahead early once again in game two. Jaci Gary doubled in two runs in the first, and an error allowed another run to score, giving the Raiders a 3–0 lead.

The advantage grew in the second as Haley Hughes lifted a sacrifice fly and Nyla Tretau lined an RBI single to right. Northwest Florida then broke the game open in the third, scoring five runs on four hits. Hailey Henry and Tretau each drove in runs with sacrifice flies, while Haley Hughes doubled home two more.

Snow's only offense came in the fourth on a two-run homer, but the Raiders quickly responded. Gary crushed a two-run home run to center in the bottom of the inning to seal the 12–2 run-rule victory.

Savannah Carter picked up the win, tossing three hitless, scoreless innings while striking out five. Mallory Baker worked in relief to close out the game.

Gary led the offense with three hits and four RBIs, while the Raiders again showed patience with six walks. Bre Hughes stole three bases as Northwest Florida wreaked havoc on the base paths, swiping eight bags in the game. Defensively, the Raiders were flawless, committing no errors, with Henry handling a team-high six chances.