MILLINGTON, Tenn. – A trio of North Alabama errors helped lead to three  Central Missouri runs and the Lions left 13 runners on base as UNA dropped a 3-2 decision to the third ranked Mules at USA Stadium.

With UNA trailing 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Brandt Holland drilled a solo home run to left to tie the game. Central Missouri then pushed across the game winner with one out in the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back hits and a UNA error.

With the loss, UNA drops to 1-1 on the season and the Lions will play the final game of the three-game series at noon on Sunday against Central Missouri.

For its part, the UNA pitching staff held Central Missouri to seven hits and struckout 10 batters. UNA catcher Logan Carter also threw out three runners trying to steal. But the Lions left the bases loaded twice and left two runners on base in two other innings.

After Holland's homer to tie the game, UNA reliever Lane Wallace retired the Mules' leadoff batter before Jackson Schnurbush singled. Elijan Dilday then doubled down the line and the Lions misplayed the ball, allowing the winning run to score.

Wallace (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run on four hits in three and one third innings of work. He walked two and struckout three. UNA starter Devan Traglia pitched five complete innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Lions managed just five hits in the loss to go with seven base on balls and one hit batter.

The game was scoreless after three innings but North Alabama had left four runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the first inning on two walks and an infield single. UNA starter Devan Traglia, meanwhile, allowed just one hit and struckout six of the first eight batters that he faced.

North Alabama missed another scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning when Ben Cooley got a leadoff single, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a wild pitch. Conner Kiser walked and stole second but the Mules got Drake Tucker on a fly-out to right to end the threat.

The Mules got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Blake Wilfong got a leadoff double and later scored after a pair of UNA fielding miscues. Wilfong advanced to third on a sacrifice attempt by Travis Stoup that Traglia couldn't field, allowing Stroup to reach first. Collin Nevil then reached on an error, driving in Wilfong. Connor Sorge then grounded out but drove in Stroup with the second run of the game.

North Alabama got a run back in the sixth when Ben Cooley reached on an error, advanced to third on a single by Davis Elliott and scored on a Logan Carter sacrifice fly. The Mules ended the threat on a diving catch in right field on a ball hit by Tucker that was originally ruled as a hit, allowing the tying run to score, and then ruled as a catch.