FLORENCE – Following a 17-day layoff, the University of North Alabama softball team returned to the field with an impressive showing on Wednesday, knocking off Murray State 11-0 in six innings. Highlighted by a pair of grand slams and a combined shutout by two senior pitchers, the Lions improved to 18-14 on the season.

Harley Stokes opened the scoring with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning. The shot to left field hit the top of the fence and bounced over, giving the senior from Demopolis 34 home runs for her career.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, UNA had runners at second and third with one out when Georgia Land's single to left field scored two runs to give the Lions a 6-0 lead.

North Alabama extended its lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth when a sacrifice fly by Sidney Bevis scored Lexie Harper from third base. The Lions followed with two singles and a walk to load the bases for Land, who connected on the first pitch for a slam to left center and end the game via the eight-run mercy rule.

UNA finished the game with 11 runs off 13 hits. Stokes added three singles and finished the day 4-for-4 with four RBI. Land had a career-high six RBI on a 2-for-4 showing. Harper was also 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.

It was the first game since April 11 for the Lions, who were forced to cancel consecutive weekend ASUN series due to COVID-19 contact tracing. On the final home game of the 2021 season, all four of UNA's graduating seniors contributed.

Megan Garst (8-8) got the win in the circle after working the first five innings and recording five strikeouts. Laken Distefano pitched the top of the sixth. Sidney Edwards also led off the third inning with a double for the Lions while Danielle de Ruiter added a single in the bottom of the fourth.

UNA will close out the regular season with four games in Jacksonville, Fla., over the weekend. The Lions will play double-headers at North Florida (Saturday) and Jacksonville (Sunday) before heading to the opening round of the ASUN Tournament the following weekend.