McGowan and Carter Earn NJCAA All-America Honors

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The postseason awards continue to roll in for Northwest Florida State Softball, as Karson McGowan and Savannah Carter were recognized Wednesday by the NJCAA as All-Americans following outstanding 2026 campaigns.

McGowan earned NJCAA First Team All-America honors as an infielder, while Carter was selected to the NJCAA Second Team All-America squad as a pitcher. McGowan becomes just the sixth First Team All-American selection in program history and the fourth Raider to receive the distinction. Carter is the fifth Second Team All-American in program history.

With the two selections, Northwest Florida has now produced 13 NJCAA All-Americans.

McGowan capped off one of the most productive seasons in program history while helping lead the Raiders to their fourth consecutive Panhandle Conference Championship and fourth straight NJCAA World Series appearance. The sophomore second baseman started all 64 games and led the team with a .447 batting average, while posting a .500 on-base percentage and .753 slugging percentage. She totaled 85 hits—second-most in program history—along with 33 extra-base hits, 12 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

A First Team All-Panhandle Conference, First Team All-FCSAA, and NFCA All-South Region selection, McGowan recorded multiple double-digit hitting streaks throughout the season and delivered several clutch performances, including a five-RBI outing against Olney Central on February 13 and a four-RBI performance against Gulf Coast on April 22.

Carter was dominant both in the circle and at the plate, earning Panhandle Conference Player of the Year and FCSAA Co-Player of the Year honors. The sophomore right-hander finished the season with a 23-2 record, three saves, and a 1.41 ERA across 27 starts. Her 159 strikeouts ranked fourth in Florida and among the top 25 nationally.

Among her many standout performances, Carter tossed a five-inning complete-game shutout against Tallahassee State on April 1 and struck out a career-high 10 batters against Lansing on March 6. She also delivered four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in the FCSAA/South Atlantic District B Championship victory over No. 11 Eastern Florida, helping send the Raiders back to the NJCAA World Series.

In addition to her success in the circle, Carter contributed offensively with a .405 batting average, seven home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .772 slugging percentage. She was previously recognized as an NFCA First Team All-American and NFCA All-South Region selection.

The All-America honors cap another historic season for Northwest Florida, which finished 57-7, captured its fourth consecutive Panhandle Conference Championship, advanced to the NJCAA World Series for the fourth straight season, and finished among the nation's top programs once again.