Box Score KENNESAW, Ga. -- North Alabama scored 11 runs on 15 hits to knock off Kennesaw State 11-7 and take a 2-0 lead in the three-game ASUN Conference series withe Owls.
The win was not without drama, however, as UNA led 11-4 going to the bottom of the ninth inning before allowing three runs and two additional base runners before stopping the threat.
With the win, UNA is now 11-36 overall and 5-21 in the ASUN.
Down, 1-0, the Lions scored two runs in the second inning as
Andrew Knight doubled,
Gehrig Frei walked and
Drew Hudson singled to load the bases.
Andin Johnson then singled in two runs to put UNA on top 2-1.
KSU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second but the Lions added two more in the third.
Jonathan Lane singled, stole second and scored on a
Kyle Machado RBI-single for the first run. Machado then went to second on a wild pitch, was balked to third and scored on a
Dominick McIntyre RBI-single, giving UNA a 4-2 advantage.
In the fourth
Ethan Walker reached on an error,
Jackson Ferrigno followed with a single and Lane singled in Walker to make it 5-2.
Kennesaw State got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth to pull to within a run of the Lions at 5-4, but UNA answered with a run of its own in the sixth. Walker was hit-by-pitch, Ferrigno walked and Walker would later score when Machado reached on an error.
In the seventh, Frei singled, went to second on an error and scored on an RBI-single by Hudson to give the Lions a three-run lead at 7-4.
UNA exploded for four more runs in the ninth. Frei got a leadoff double, Hudson was intentionally walked and Johnson doubled them both in. Ferrigno singled in Johnson and later scored on a Machado RBI-single.
North Alabama starter
Kevin Henrich (1-2) had his best appearance of the season to earn his first collegiate win. He allowed just four runs on six hits over seven innings of work. He struckout six.
Brycen Parrish came on in the eighth to try and close the game and had a scoreless eighth inning before getting roughed up for three runs in the ninth.
Jacob James then came on in relief for the second game in a row and was able to stop the threat.
Johnson led the Lions with three hits, while Ferrigno, Lane, Machado, Frei and Hudson had two each.
The final game of the series is Sunday at noon.
