PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — The Patrick & Henry Community College softball team continued play Friday at the JUCO Showdown in Panama City Beach, facing NJCAA Division I opponents Wallace State Community College and Northwest Florida State College on Day 2 of the event.

Patrick & Henry dropped the opening game of the day, 11–0, against Wallace State after the Lions broke the game open with an eight-run fourth inning.

Wallace State scored its first runs in the third before capitalizing on a big fourth inning that included multiple extra-base hits. P&HCC starting pitcher Aris Smith, a sophomore from King George, Virginia, worked three innings in the circle, allowing five runs (three earned) while striking out three.

At the plate, the Patriots recorded two hits in the contest. Mckenzie Cobb, a freshman utility player from Yanceyville, North Carolina, and Kayli Alvarado, a freshman infielder from Harrisonburg, Virginia, each finished with a hit for P&HCC.

In the second game of the day, P&HCC faced Northwest Florida State College and fell 11–0 as the Raiders used early offense to build a lead.

Northwest Florida scored five runs in the opening inning and added to its advantage in the second. Lily Carola, a sophomore pitcher/first baseman from Union, West Virginia, started in the circle for the Patriots, while Aris Smith returned in relief, tossing three innings and striking out five.

The Patriots embraced the challenge of facing nationally competitive programs, with Head Coach Robbi Campbell noting that "we're playing some very tough competition this weekend, and that's exactly what we need early in the season. These games are great experience for our group and will help prepare us for conference play and the rest of the year."

Patrick & Henry will wrap up play at the JUCO Showdown on Saturday, February 7, with two games in Panama City, Florida, facing Shelton State Community College at 10:30 a.m. and John A. Logan College at 1:00 p.m.