FLORENCE, Ala. (May 11, 2024) – UNA senior Jacob Bradshaw pitched 8.1 innings — the longest start of his career — allowing just two runs to help power the University of North Alabama baseball team to a 4-2 victory over North Florida on Saturday at Mike D. Lane Field. 
 
The Lions improve to 17-32 on the season while North Florida falls to 21-26. The Lions move to 9-17 in ASUN Conference play with four conference contests remaining on the season. 
 
With the win, UNA has set new Division I program highs for wins in a season with 17 and ASUN wins in a season with nine. The previous Division I high for wins was set in 2019 at 16 while UNA surpasses last year's total of eight ASUN victories. 
 
Bradshaw tallied a flyout to open up the ninth inning, surpassing his longest outing of 8.0 innings previously set on April 1, 2022 against Central Arkansas. He exited the contest after allowing a pair of Osprey baserunners. Dane Sykes entered the game in relief and allowed a two-run single before forcing two groundouts to end the game and earn the save. 
 
North Alabama and North Florida were locked in a pitcher's duel through five and a half innings, with Bradshaw and UNF starter Tony Roca combining for 11.0 innings while allowing just four combined hits.
 
UNA finally broke the scoreless tie in the home half of the sixth inning. Leighton Jenkins led off the frame with a double to left-center field before moving to third base on a Jonathan Lane sacrifice bunt. Kyle Machado brought home Jenkins on a single through the left side of the infield.
 
Andrew Knight doubled down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but UNF escaped the jam with a strikeout before the Lions could tack on any more runs.
 
Walks from Andin Johnson and Dominick McIntyre left two runners on for Bryant Loving with nobody out in the seventh. Loving reached on a fielder's choice as two runs came around to score on an Osprey throwing error. 
 
A pair of UNA seniors teamed up for the fourth run of the game as Levi Jensen singled and came around to score on a double from McIntyre. 
 
Bradshaw picked up a flyout before a double and a walk forced the Lions to make the call to the bullpen in the ninth. Sykes entered in relief and picked up his fifth save of the season. 
 
Bradshaw was just two batters away from securing UNA's first complete game shutout since Austin Nichols tossed 7.0 scoreless in a 10-0 win over Memphis in 2022. 
 
Prior to the game on Saturday, UNA celebrated the history of Mike D. Lane Field with ceremonial first pitches thrown by former head coaches Mike Lane and Mike Keehn to UNA Athletic Hall of Famer Josh Willingham. The series against UNF is set to be the final series played at Mike D. Lane Field. 
 
Pitchers of Record
W - Jacob Bradshaw (3-3)
L – Tony Roca (5-3)
S – Dane Sykes (5)
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
North Alabama and UNF return for the final game at Mike D. Lane Field tomorrow, May 12 at noon. The winner of the game will take home an ASUN series victory with just three conference matchups remaining on the season. 
 
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