Raiders Return to the Diamond for Visit PCB JUCO Classic

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NICEVILLE, Fla. — Fresh off a perfect opening weekend in Sarasota, No. 20 Northwest Florida State baseball is back in action this week, preparing for four high-stakes games against a challenging slate of opponents in Panama City. The Raiders enter the week riding momentum after a 3–0 start and will be tested immediately as they face multiple ranked and region foes in the Visit PCB JUCO Classic.

When, Where, What
Northwest Florida will compete Thursday and Friday, January 29–30, in Panama City, Fla., as part of the Visit PCB JUCO Classic, hosted by Perfect Game in partnership with Gulf Coast State College at the Publix Sports Complex. Originally scheduled as a Friday-through-Sunday event, the tournament was restructured into a Thursday–Friday round-robin format due to anticipated weather conditions.

Who the Raiders Will Face
The competition will be stiff throughout the two-day stretch. Northwest Florida opens the classic with a Thursday doubleheader against a pair of nationally ranked opponents before turning its attention to Region VIII foes on Friday.

Thursday, January 29
• Game One (12:30 p.m.) — No. 20 Northwest Florida vs. No. 11 John A. Logan
• Game Two (5:30 p.m.) — No. 20 Northwest Florida vs. No. 8 Florence-Darlington

Friday, January 30
• Game Three (12:30 p.m.) — No. 20 Northwest Florida vs. Indian River (Receiving Votes)
• Game Four (5:30 p.m.) — No. 20 Northwest Florida vs. Eastern Florida

Last Week
The Raiders could not have scripted a better start to the 2026 season, opening 3–0 with wins over Miami Dade (5–0), Pasco-Hernando (5–1), and State College of Florida (19–8). Northwest Florida showcased depth on both sides of the ball, pairing dominant pitching with explosive offense throughout the weekend.

Hunter Tarchalski (INF/RHP) was red-hot at the plate, going 8-for-9 with a double and a home run to lead the Raiders offensively. Orlando Fernandez (INF) also delivered a standout performance, tallying five hits, two home runs, a double, six RBIs, and drawing two walks. Nathan Nance (OF) matched Fernandez with five hits of his own, adding a double, a triple, and two RBIs.

On the mound, Northwest Florida utilized 11 pitchers over the weekend—typical of teams early in the season. The Raiders' pitching staff combined to allow just six earned runs, posting a 2.35 ERA while striking out 22 batters. Left-hander Eli Jones logged the most innings (3.1), surrendering no hits, runs, or walks while striking out three. Opening-day starter Mikhai Grant also impressed, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.