FLORENCE, Ala. -- Tyler Joyner pitched a complete-game shutout in the opener and the Lions used a seven-run inning in the nightcap to complete the sweep as the University of North Alabama picked up a double-header sweep of 12th ranked Nova Southeastern, 9-0 and 8-6 at Mike Lane Field.

With the sweep North Alabama improves to 2-3 overall, while the Sharks fall to 3-3.

UNA scored seven runs in the first inning of the opener on just one hit and were never challenged in game one as Joyner (1-1) allowed just four hits and struckout nine in nine innings.

T.J. Lockett led off with a single off NSU starter Devin Conn. Conn (1-1) then hit four batters and walked two and left the game without recording an out. He would take the loss, allowing seven runs in no official innings pitched. Ryan Maya came on and managed to close out the inning and pitched five strong innings for the Sharks. UNA added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings on an RBI single by Peyton Sockwell and a sacrifice fly by Brandt Holland.

UNA finished with just five hits but the Lions were aided eight walks and five hit batters.

Joyner did not allow a hit from the second inning to the ninth, retiring 15 straight batters at one point.

Nova Southeastern took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap with two singles and a hit batter in the first inning.

UNA then took the lead for good with a seven-run second inning where the Lions recorded eight hits and were aided by two errors.

Ridge Watson was hit-by-pitch, Kevin Brenning followed with a one-out single and Watson scored on a Ben Cooley RBI-single. T.J. Lockett reached on a fielder's choice and Brenning scored on an error as the Sharks' throw home from third was wide of the plate. Davis Elliott had an RBI single and then stole second before Kyle Hubbuch launched a three-run homer to right field. It was Hubbuch's 28th career home run at UNA and pushed UNA's lead to 6-0. Reid Homan, Logan Carter and Watson all singled to load the bases and Sockwell drove in Homan with an RBI-single.

Nova Southeastern added one run off UNA starter Lane Wallace in the fourth and two more in the fifth to close the gap to 7-4. UNA closer Channing Wall came on in the sixth but gave up two unearned runs to make it 7-5 before striking out Dominic Diana with the bases loaded to end the threat.

UNA got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Hubbuch reached on a misplayed pop-up to left and scored on a Carter RBI-single.

Wall closed out the Sharks in the seventh to record his first save of the season. Wallace (1-1) got the win, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked two and struckout three. The Lions had 10 hits in the game, led by Carter and Sockwell with two each.

Weather-permitting, the Lions and Sharks are scheduled to play the final game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m.


Former UNA Baseball Coach Mike Lane threw out the first pitch for the 2018 home-opener


Tyler Joyner threw a complete-game shutout against the 12th ranked Sharks


Peyton Sockwell


T.J. Lockett


Ben Cooley


Davis Elliott


Logan Carter


Reid Homan


Kyle Hubbuch


Davis Elliott scores a run


Lane Wallace picked up the win in game two