FLORENCE, Ala. -- A trio of University of North Alabama pitchers allowed just seven combined hits and the Lions backed them with 21 runs as UNA swept a Gulf South Conference double-header from Shorter, 9-1 and 12-7 at Mike Lane Field.

UNA is now 9-4 overall and 5-0 in the GSC, while Shorter is 7-5 overall and 0-5 in the GSC.

North Alabama junior Tyler Joyner was dominant in the opening game, earning a nine-inning, complete-game win. He allowed just one hit and three walks while striking out 11. Joyner is now 4-0 on the season.

UNA scored two runs in the third inning on RBI-hits by Logan Carter and Ben Cooley. The Lions then added five runs in the fifth, keyed by a three-run double by Davis Elliott. Two more runs in the seventh off RBI-hits by Brandt Holland and Cooley made the final count 9-1. The Lions out-hit the Hawks 12 to one in the game.

Shorter took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two off UNA starter Bradley Bailey, aided by a pair of Lion errors. UNA came back with a run in the bottom of the first and took the lead for good in a wild five-run second inning that saw UNA score five runs on just one hit. The Lions were helped by two walks, a hit batter, five Shorter errors and two wild pitches in the inning.

Shorter rallied to make it 6-4 with two runs in the third but UNA got the runs back in the bottom of the third on an RBI-triple by Drake Tucker and a sacrifice fly by T.J. Lockett. The Lions added two more runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth for a 12-4 lead before Shorter tallied three runs in the sixth.

Bailey, now 1-2, picked up the win, allowing seven runs on four hits with five walks and eight strikeouts in five and a third innings. Only four of the seven runs were earned. Dylan Stewart pitched an inning and two-thirds, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts.

Lockett has now reached base safely in all 13 of UNA's games this season, while Elliott extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games.

The Lions and Hawks will play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mike Lane Field.


Saturday was Military Appreciation Day at Mike Lane Field. The Colors were presented by the UNA Army ROTC Color Guard.


Current UNA students and United States Air Force Veterans Ryan Newton and Joe Dailey threw out the First Pitches on Saturday.


Davis Elliott


T.J. Lockett


Peyton Sockwell


Tyler Joyner


Kyle Hubbuch


Logan Carter


Brandt Holland


Bradley Bailey