YUMA, Ariz. — The 2025 season has been nothing short of historic for Northwest Florida State softball. From going undefeated in conference play, to rattling off a record-setting 38 straight wins, to breaking the program’s single-season wins record for the third consecutive year—this team has rewritten the record books. And now, they’re on the cusp of making history one more time.
On Friday, the Raiders took down top-ranked Florida SouthWestern 3-1 in the NJCAA National Semifinals, avenging their 2023 championship loss and securing their spot in the national title game.
From the opening pitch, this one felt like destiny. The two best teams in the country, meeting once again on the biggest stage. But this time, it was the Raiders who delivered the final blow.
Northwest Florida opened the scoring in the early innings behind a solo blast from Karson McGowen, her eighth of the season. One inning later, Bre Hughes joined the party with a solo shot of her own—her 11th homer of the year—stretching the lead to 2-0. The Raiders weren’t done. Red-hot Sara Watson, hitting a blistering .643 (7-for-11) in the World Series, came through with an RBI single to score Hayden Andrews and push the lead to 3-0.
But the story of the game was Cailyn Heyl, who once again dominated in the circle. The right-hander went the distance for her fourth straight complete game, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. Heyl was unshakable in high-pressure moments, stranding 10 Buccaneers on base—including the bases loaded in the final frame—to slam the door shut.
With the win, the Raiders advance to Saturday’s NJCAA National Championship Game, where they’ll face the winner of tonight’s elimination game between Florida SouthWestern and No. 11 Wallace State (8:00 p.m. CT).
Unlike 2023, when they needed to beat the Bucs twice and couldn’t get it done, this year the script is flipped: Northwest Florida needs just one more win to capture the first national title in program history. Whoever emerges from the elimination game will have to win three times—once Friday night and twice Saturday—to take the crown.
First pitch for Saturday’s National Championship is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
