FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama split an ASUN Conference softball double-header with Central Arkansas, taking the opener 3-2 before watching its seventh inning comeback fall short in the nightcap, 6-4.
 
The win in the opener snapped a five-game losing skid for the Lions and gave UNA its first ASUN win of the season. Then, down 6-0 in the bottom of the seventh of game two, UNA scored four runs before Central Arkansas ended the threat.
 
UNA is now 18-8 overall and 1-5 in the ASUN. Central Arkansas is now 20-8 and 5-1 in the ASUN.
 
In the opener, UNA starter Maci Birdyshaw walked in two runs in the first inning but settled down to hold the Bears scoreless the rest of the day and limit them to four hits.
 
The Lions got their first run in the second inning when Brooke Burback singled and was later walked home by Sidney Bevis to make it 2-1.
 
Then in the fifth inning, Felicity Frame and Bevis had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Both then scored on a two-out single by Haven Kirby to give UNA a 3-2 lead.
 
Birdyshaw (8-3) got the win for UNA.
 
In game two, UCA's Jordan Johnson carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh and held a comfortable 6-0 lead as the Bears had scored a run in the first, two in the third and three in the sixth.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgia Land drew a one-out walk and Kirby reached on an error. Burback then singled in the Lions first run and Kirby followed Land to the plate after a bobble by the leftfielder.
 
Danielle Taitt then blasted a two-run homer to left field to make it 6-4. Johnson then struckout the last two batters to end the threat.
 
UNA hosts Alabama A&M on Tuesday.