STARKVILLE, Miss. (May 14, 2024) – The University of North Alabama team was tied with the No. 16 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs through five and a half innings on Tuesday in Starkville, Miss., but MSU took the lead with a solo home run in the sixth and defeated UNA in the final midweek contest of the season, 8-4. 
 
The Lions move to 17-33-1 entering the final series of the season while Mississippi State moves to 34-18. 
 
Andrew Knight poked a double down the left field line to score the game-tying run in the sixth inning as the Lions entered the final three and a half innings tied 2-2 with the No. 16 ranked team in the country. Mississippi State added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game. 
 
John Allen Stogner started the afternoon on the bump for the Lions and matched his career best for strikeouts in a game with four. Stogner allowed just one earned run and three hits across 2.1 innings.
 
Mississippi State took the first lead of the game on a first inning single back up the middle before extending the lead on a third inning solo homer. 
 
Cal Cook put the Lions on the board with a solo shot to lead off the fourth inning, breaking up the Bulldog perfect game bid. Cook's second home run of the season cut the MSU lead to 2-1 after four innings. 
 
Three consecutive Bulldog batters reached base with two outs in the fourth inning before Justin Battle picked up an inning-ending strikeout, stranding three baserunners. 
 
Levi Jensen pinch hit to lead off the sixth inning, doubling down the left field line. Kyle Machado reached base after being hit by a pitch with one out, setting up Knight with two runners on and one out following a Mississippi State pitching change. 
 
Knight pulled a ball down the line to bring home Jensen and even the score at 2-2. Knight is now one of five Lions with 10 or more doubles on the season. 
 
Mississippi State benefitted from catcher Joe Powell's second home run of the night — this time in three-run fashion — to extend the Bulldog lead out to 5-2. MSU added another run in the seventh on a double and a sacrifice fly.
 
The Lions attempted to mount a comeback in the eighth after a leadoff double from Jensen and a single from Gehrig Frei. Jensen came around to score on a Machado groundout while Frei cut the MSU lead to 6-4 after scoring on a single from Knight. 
 
Powell launched his third home run of the night in the bottom half of the eighth, extending the MSU lead to 8-4. The Mississippi State catcher had six of the team's eight RBIs.
 
Entering the final three games of the season, North Alabama still has a chance to participate in the ASUN Championship. It would be the first postseason appearance for the Lions in the Division I era. 
 
Pitchers of Record
W - Cam Schuelke (4-3)
L – Carson Howard (1-1)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
UNA travels to Ausitn Peay to take on the Governers in a must-win series on May 16-18 in the final three regular season contests of the 2024 campaign.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.