YUMA, Ariz. — Powered by a fast start at the plate and another dominant outing from sophomore right-hander Cailyn Heyl, Northwest Florida State downed No. 7 Gaston 6–2 on Wednesday afternoon to advance to the NJCAA World Series semifinals in Yuma. The win is the Raiders’ third of the tournament and sets up a high-stakes meeting with top-ranked Florida SouthWestern on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. CT.
This victory also marks a historic milestone for the program, as Northwest Florida State has now broken its single season wins record for the third consecutive year. With 59 wins and counting, the Raiders continue to set a new standard of excellence, rewriting the record books while surging toward a potential national title.
Heyl continued her remarkable postseason run, tossing her third consecutive complete game in Yuma. The ace allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking none — a calm, composed performance that gave the Raiders every chance to take control early and never look back. That’s exactly what they did.
After Gaston struck first in the top of the first inning with an RBI single from Alayna Patrick, the Raiders answered immediately. In the home half, Haley Hughes tagged and scored on a deep sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at 1–1. Northwest Florida took the lead for good in the second inning. Sara Watson laced a double into left field to plate one, and Hughes delivered again with another sac fly, giving the Raiders a 3–1 edge. They weren’t done yet.
In the third, the bats stayed hot. Hayden Andrews lined a single to bring in another run, and Hughes capped off her day with an RBI double — her third run driven in — pushing the score to 6–1. With a five-run cushion, Heyl settled into a rhythm in the circle. She retired Gaston in order in the fourth and fifth, navigated a two-on, no-out jam in the sixth, and gave up a solo home run to Sarah Johnson in the seventh — the only real blemish on another stellar outing.
Offensively, the Raiders were efficient and opportunistic. Hughes finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs, while Watson and Bre Hughes each went 2-for-3 at the plate. The team totaled seven hits on the day, and executed flawlessly in the field, turning a double play and committing no errors.
With Wednesday’s victory, Northwest Florida State is headed back to the final four for just the third time in program history. The Raiders will take on No. 1 Florida SouthWestern on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. CT, with a trip to the NJCAA National Championship Game on the line.
This high-stakes matchup is a rematch two years in the making. The last time these two powerhouse programs met was in the 2022 National Championship Game in Oxford, Ala., where the Raiders battled valiantly but ultimately fell 10-6 to a dominant Buccaneers squad that captured its third consecutive national title.
A semifinal showdown between Northwest Florida and Florida SouthWestern has felt inevitable all season long. Both teams have hovered near the top of the national rankings and have been on a collision course for this moment—each eager to prove they belong atop the NJCAA softball world.
Florida SouthWestern enters the semifinal as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, following a stellar 55-5 regular season that included both a Citrus Conference Championship and an FCSAA State Championship. While the Bucs are known for their potent lineup, it’s their elite pitching staff that truly separates them. As a team, they rank 6th nationally in ERA (1.81), 5th in shutouts (18), and 1st in opponent batting average (.193).
Five Buccaneers pitchers have logged significant innings this season, all sporting ERAs under 2.00. Leading the way is Leah Meyer, who boasts an 18-1 record and 1.92 ERA in 31 appearances. She’s backed by Lizzy Kwakernaak, who’s tossed over 100 innings with a 1.95 ERA and 108 strikeouts, giving the Bucs incredible depth in the circle.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, streaming on ESPN+. The winner advances directly to Saturday’s National Championship Game, just one win away from hoisting the trophy. The loser will drop into the elimination bracket and face a steep climb—needing to win Friday night and then take two straight games in the final to claim the national crown.
