Softball Raiders win pair

The Navarre High School softball team won two games last week to make it three in a row. However, neither win was easy as the Raiders won by a run in each. (PHOTO: Shana Pearl bunts against Washington.)

The Raiders played an almost perfect game against Escambia on Feb.26, but their defense fell apart three days later against Washington.

Navarre 2, Escambia 1

The Raiders scored twice in the first inning and then hung on to beat the Gators at home by a 2-1 score.

All the scoring for the Raiders happened the first inning. Callan Taylor walked with one out and moved to second on a passed ball. Jenna Bobbitt lined a double to left centerfield that scored Taylor. Bobbitt advanced to third base on a Gator passed ball and Brooke Murphy hit a long fly ball to centerfield. Bobbitt easily tagged up on the play and scored the second run of the inning.

Audrey Thomas started the game on the mound. She had six strikeouts over four innings. The only run scored by the Gators came in the fourth inning when the first two batters doubled. However, Thomas was able to get out of trouble by striking out the next two hitters and forcing the fifth hitter of the inning to ground out to short.

Allison “Cat” Pettigrew pitched the last three innings, shutting out the Gators while striking out seven.

Navarre 5, Washington 4

The Raiders rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull a victory out at home against Washington. The defense of both teams was horrendous as both teams committed five errors.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the first inning on a hit batter, walk, stolen base and a single. The Raiders came back in the bottom of the inning when Kamber Anderson, Murphy and Taylor singled. Murphy eventually scored on a fielder’s choice, but the Raiders killed a big inning by leaving the bases loaded.

Capitalizing on two Raiders’ errors in the second and third innings, the Wildcats scored two more runs to take a 4-1 lead.

The Raiders scored two runs in third inning to get the Raiders close again. Murphy singled to start the inning. Taylor reached first on an error. Both scored when the Wildcats committed two more errors.

After the Wildcats had two runners on base in the sixth inning, Navarre coach Scott Murphy replaced starting pitcher Thomas with Pettigrew. Thomas pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, only two of which were earned, and she struck out six.

Bobbitt also replaced Shelby Kessinger behind the plate. The insertion of Bobbitt and Pettigrew into the game seemed to wake up the Raiders. Sara Wilson foiled a Wildcats’ rally when she made a great backhanded stop and threw out the batter to end the inning.

Taylor walked to lead off the seventh inning with the Raiders trailing 4-3. Bacon laid down a bunt and reached first safely when the Wildcat catcher threw the ball into right field. Crystal Evans singled to load the bases. Bobbitt reached first on a fielder’s choice when Taylor beat a late throw home with the tying run. Pettigrew lined a single to right with the bases loaded to end the game.

Pettigrew was the winning pitcher in relief, giving up no runs in 2 2/3 innings and striking out seven.

The Raiders’ record is now 4-2 in district play and 6-3 overall. The next scheduled game is an away contest at Catholic on March 13.