TROY, Ala. (February 10, 2024) – The University of North Alabama softball team continued its winning ways Saturday morning to open the 2024 season, defeating UT Martin and Samford in back-to-back games at the Trojan Invitational in Troy, Ala.
 
The Lions improve to 4-0 on the season and will have a chance to leave unbeaten with a win tomorrow morning against Troy. This marks the second straight season UNA has started with four or more wins, including a 5-0 start last year.
 
The first game of the day was a tight one, as the Lions defeated UT Martin by a 2-1 final. The second game brought much more offense for North Alabama while maintaining the success in the circle, as the Lions blanked Samford for a second time, 8-0.
 
Junior Cassidy Duskin highlighted the day for UNA, as the Northeast Mississippi transfer tossed a complete game shutout over 7.0 innings against Samford. Offensively, a number of players contributed, including senior shortstop Haven Kirby extending a four-game hitting streak with two doubles and a triple today.
 
While the Lions improve to 4-0, UT Martin drops to 1-2 and Samford falls to 0-3.

That's 4️⃣ in a row!

Cassidy Duskin tosses a complete game shutout and the Lions take down Samford to improve to 4-0 on the season.

We're back tomorrow at 11 a.m. to battle Troy!#RoarLions 🦁 pic.twitter.com/tC0HKNdZql
— North Alabama Softball (@UNASoftball) February 10, 2024
 

Game 1 — North Alabama 2, UT Martin 1
 
The Lions battled the Skyhawks in the first game of the day, getting a pair of RBIs from true freshman Briley Dover and a combined gem in the circle from pitchers Hannah Embry and Alivia Wilken to win 2-1.
 
Both teams had a single in the first inning, including junior centerfielder Sydney Harris for North Alabama. Neither team was able to get a run across, as Embry got the start in the circle for UNA and escaped the inning without a scratch.
 
With one out in the top of the second, UNA struck first courtesy of a homer from Dover. The Lions looked for more with two on and two outs, but a run-down at third base ended the inning. UT Martin reached two more in the bottom half, but the senior Embry ended the threat with a groundout to the circle.
 
Harris started the third with a leadoff walk and later moved over on a throwing error. With two outs, local senior Sydney Bevis kept the inning alive by drawing a four-pitch walk, bringing Dover up for the second time. The former Loretto High School standout worked a 3-2 count and ended it with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
 
After UTM escaped the top of the inning, the Skyhawks cut the lead in half with a sacrifice fly by pitcher Kiersten Nixon — helping her own cause. Nixon moved to designated player in the fourth inning and was replaced by Ashtyn Green in the circle with a 2-1 deficit.
 
In the fourth inning, someone finally solved the Wilken puzzle as UT Martin all-conference performer Kaci Fuller hit a two-out single. This ended a streak of 27 consecutive outs for Wilken. The junior transfer from Wallace State allowed another infield single, but got a pop out to Haven Kirby at shortstop to end the inning in a shutout
 
The fifth brought a similar experience for UNA, as the Skyhawks loaded the bases with one out to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Wilken went into clutch mode from there, getting the final two outs on a flyout and a strikeout looking to keep the lead.
 
Both teams went down in order in the sixth inning, then UT Martin escaped a jam in the seventh with Jones and Kirby in scoring position. With a one-run game still in tact, Wilken finished the job with three straight outs for her second win of the campaign.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (2-0)
L – Kiersten Nixon (0-1)
S – None
 
Game 2 — North Alabama 8, Samford 0
 
North Alabama fired on all cylinders in the rematch with Samford, extending the win streak with a dominant 8-0 shutout.
 
Duskin got her second start of the season and picked up her second win, going 7.0 innings with just four hits allowed. She had no walks, but hit three batters, and added four strikeouts over 74 pitches. She finishes the first two starts with a 1.85 ERA over 11.1 innings.
 
While Duskin and the defense did its thing, the offense totaled a season-high 12 hits, including five extra base hits. Harris, Kirby, Felicity Frame and Ryleigh Boyett all had multi-hit games, while Dover, junior Hailey Jones and sophomore Becca Benton added one apiece.
 
Boyett started the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single to score Dover, while Jones added two runs in the third with an RBI double and a run off a wild pitch. Two more crossed in the fifth as Jones grounded home Harris and Frame crossed on a passed ball.
 
With a 5-0 lead already in hand, the Lions added three runs of insurance in the seventh. Dover started the rally with single up the middle to bring in Kirby. After that, Benton made her first plate appearance of 2024 and gapped a double into left-center, bringing home Dover. Benton later scored on a double by Boyett to end the scoring.
 
Duskin returned with confidence in the seventh inning, getting two groundouts and a punchout to end the game.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Cassidy Duskin (2-0)
L – Sara Bond (0-1)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions finish up weekend play against tournament host Troy on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.