FLORENCE, Ala. (March 16, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team battled for much of game one, but the powerful Kennesaw State offense was too much for the Lions to overcome in a doubleheader loss on Saturday at Toyota Field in Madison, Ala. 
 
The Lions fall to 6-12 on the season and 0-2 in ASUN play, while the Owls improve to 11-8 on the year and 2-0 to start conference play.
 
Game 1 — Kennesaw State 10, North Alabama 5

North Alabama and Kennesaw State were locked in a back and forth battle in the ASUN Conference opener on Saturday. 
 
UNA notched an early 2-0 lead following a run-scoring double play and a Levi Jensen RBI single in the second inning. The Owls responded on the top of the fourth with three runs of their own, taking their first lead of the day.
 
The Lions found themselves out front in the home half of the inning, however, as Jackson Ferrigno and Jonathan Lane each brought home a runner following a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch, respectively. This brought the score to 4-3. Kennesaw State used a pair of RBI singles to get back out in front in the fifth inning.
 
Gehrig Frei launched his team-leading third home run of the season to tie the game up at 5-5 — the fifth tie of the game. KSU added a run in the seventh to take the lead before bolstering it with four more runs in the eighth inning.
 
Jacob James started the day in the bump for UNA and tossed 5.0 frames, striking out three and allowing five runs as he did not earn a decision.
 
Alongside his home run, Frei tabbed a single and would later come around to score as he finished the day 2-for-4.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Nolan Sliver (1-2)
L – Brycen Parrish (0-2)
S – None
 
 
Game 2 — Kennesaw State 11, North Alabama 1

North Alabama entered the bottom of the first inning following a 1-2-3 first from Jacob Bradshaw. The Lions loaded the bases with one out, but failed to capitalize. After that, Kennesaw State tabbed an RBI single in the second inning to go up 1-0 and did not look back in a series winning victory over the Lions. 
 
The Owls entered the seventh inning up 4-0 and used a seven run inning to take down the Lions 11-1. 
 
Jensen was hit by a pitch in the seventh and would come around to score on a Ferrigno single to give UNA its lone run of the game.
 
Ferrigno picked up a pair of singles on the evening, while Kyle Machado added two hits of his own which included a triple in the bottom of the third.
 
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Blake Aita (2-0)
L – Jacobs Bradshaw (1-2)
S – None
 
 
COMING UP NEXT
  
North Alabama and Kennesaw State return to Toyota Field to square off in the series finale on Sunday, March 17 at noon.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.