Raiders Split Saturday Doubleheader with Pearl River

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Northwest Florida battled Pearl River in a Saturday doubleheader, dropping a heartbreaker in the opener before bouncing back for a decisive win in game two.

Game One: Pearl River 10, NWF 9

Northwest Florida fell 10-9 in a back-and-forth contest that ended on the final play of the game. Tied at nine in the bottom of the eighth, Pearl River delivered a walk-off single to seal the win.

The Raiders exploded for a huge first inning behind Angel Santiago, who homered twice in the frame — a solo shot to center and a grand slam to left. Brock Clayton and Kaden Linares each drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs, Matthew Scott added an RBI single, and Orlando Fernandez capped the inning with a solo homer to left.

Santiago finished 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored from the leadoff spot.

Pearl River chipped away with a solo homer in the second and a two-run shot in the third before rallying to tie the game at nine with an RBI double in the seventh.

Presley Woodson started on the mound for Northwest Florida, allowing four runs on five hits over 3.2 innings while striking out three and walking three. The Raiders totaled 10 hits in the game, with Fernandez adding two.

Game Two: NWF 9, Pearl River 6

The Raiders responded with a 9-6 victory in the nightcap, powered by a 15-hit performance.

Brock Clayton led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double, a single, and a two-run homer in the seventh that provided key insurance runs.

Pearl River struck first with a two-run homer in the opening inning. Joe Cable answered in the second with a solo shot to center on an 0-2 count. The Wildcats extended their lead in the bottom of the second with a two-run combination of a double and a single.

Northwest Florida surged ahead in the third, plating five runs on seven hits to take a 6-4 advantage. The biggest hit of the inning came from Orlando Fernandez, who ripped a two-run double on an 0-2 pitch.

Pearl River tied the game at six in the fourth, but the Raiders regained the lead in the fifth when Cable delivered an RBI single to make it 7-6. Clayton's seventh-inning homer added breathing room and secured the split.

Tucker Delisle started and struck out seven over 3.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned). Aiden Torrez was dominant in relief, tossing 3.1 hitless innings with two strikeouts and no walks.

Clayton and Sam Bradley each recorded three hits, while Hunter Tarchalski, Tristan King, and Cable added multiple-hit performances. King also swiped three bases as the Raiders totaled four steals in the win.