LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- North Alabama took an early lead on a Taylor Hayes grand-slam but saw it slip away in the late innings as the Lions dropped the final game of a Gulf South Conference baseball series with West Alabama, 8-4. 

With the loss, UNA is 15-9 overall and 8-7 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama improved to 22-5 and 12-3.

West Alabama got a run in the first inning off UNA starter Todd Gibson but the Lions took a 4-1 advantage in the third inning on the grand slam by Hayes. Dylan Calhoun and Kyle Crabtree both singled and Kevin Hall was hit-by-pitch to set up Hayes blast.

The Tigers then chipped away at the UNA lead, scoring two runs in the fourth to make it 4-3. UWA then got two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead and added a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Gibson (2-3) pitched five and a third innings for the Lions, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Shawn Smirnoff allowed one unearned run in one inning of relief and Blake Talley was hit for two unearned runs in an inning and two thirds.

UNA was out-hit just seven to six in the game but the Lions made three errors.