CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 23, 2024) – Fresh off a series win over Lipscomb in the Atlantic Sun Conference opening series last weekend, the University of North Alabama marches into Charlotte, N.C. for a three-game series with Queens beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
 
The series was originally scheduled for March 23-24 but was postponed a day due to expected weather. The series will now begin with the Sunday afternoon doubleheader and will roll into Monday morning at 10 a.m.
 
All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ and will have live stats available via StatBroadcast.
 
GAME 1
North Alabama at Queens
Sunday, March 24, 2024
2 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes | Twitter
 
GAME 2
North Alabama at Queens
Sunday, March 24, 2024
2 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes | Twitter
 
GAME 3
North Alabama at Queens
Sunday, March 24, 2024
2 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes | Twitter
 
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama earned a 10-4 win on Wednesday against Tennessee State, using 13 hits to propel past the Tigers. Trailing in the fifth, the Tigers pulled within one to make it 4-3 heading to the bottom of the inning, but UNA rallied for six runs in the bottom frame to pull away. The 10 runs and 13 hits mark the second-highest single-game totals for North Alabama this season.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA enters with a 21-9 record this season, including a 2-1 record in ASUN play after taking two of three from Lipscomb last weekend in Florence. The Lions are the only ASUN team ranked in the top three of all three major hitting-pitching-fielding categories — batting average (.283), ERA (2.54) and fielding percentage (.980).
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Queens is 11-12 on the season and 0-3 in ASUN play following a sweep at FGCU. Earlier this week, Queens split a doubleheader with Winthrop in non-conference play, winning 8-4 before falling 10-4. The Royals are 6-1 on their home field this season, including wins over Canisius, Presbyterian, Norfolk State and NC Central. Senior infielder Ashlyn Mickler leads the offense with a .339 average on 20 hits, while sophomore  Autumn Courtney leads in the circle with an 8-5 record and 1.70 ERA.
 
SERIES HISTORY: The first-ever meeting took place in a three-game series last season in Florence, as Queens took two of three. Courtney pitched in all three of those games for Queens, totaling 18.0 innings, while UNA used a mix of pitchers. The series finale win was credited to returner Mariyn Waterman. McKenzie Patterson, who homered against Tennessee State on Wednesday, had an RBI single in the 3-2 win over Queens in the finale. For Queens, outfielder Kaylee DeJesus impacted last season's series with two RBIs in the opener and a go-ahead grand slam in a 4-1 win in the series clincher. She is back as a junior this season, batting .174 in 20 starts.
 
WILKEN WORLD: Junior transfer Alivia Wilken has been outstanding in the circle for UNA this season, owning a 10-4 record with a 2.16 ERA over 96.0 innings pitched. She pitched two complete game shutouts last weekend and has went the distance 11 times this season. Her 96.0 innings ranks seventh in the nation.
 
FIELDING IT WELL: The Lions rank seventh in the nation with a .980 fielding percentage this season. This total also leads the ASUN. UNA has finished error-less in 18 of 30 games and has a 13-4 record when doing so. Meanwhile, UNA is 12-0 when the opponent commits more than one error.
 
DOUBLE VISION: UNA ranks 30th nationally and first in the ASUN in doubles with 46 to average 1.53 per game. Many of those come from veteran middle infielders Jones and Kirby, who combine for 17 doubles.
 
FRAME THIS: Senior outfielder Felicity Frame led the ASUN in hitting last season and currently leads the ASUN this season with 40 hits. Frame is batting .417 this season, has a .472 on-base percentage and has stolen nine bases in 11 attempts.
 
SECOND INNING SUCCESS: Over 30 games, UNA has allowed just two runs in the second inning of games this season.
LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT: The Lions are one of the rare teams with two left-handed starters in Wilken and fellow JUCO transfer Cassidy Duskin. For perspective, UNA has totaled 802 at-bats on offense. Only 64 of those at-bats have come against opposing left handers, while the other 738 have been against right-handers.
 
PRESEASON POLLS: The ASUN announced its preseason information in February, as North Alabama landed its highest preseason ranking of the Division I era in third place behind Central Arkansas and FGCU. Jones represented the Lions on the preseason all-conference team as an infielder. All 12 teams began conference play last weekend.
 
INCOMING TALENT: Of the 12 newcomers on the UNA roster, seven come from the junior college level and three are true freshman. The other two are redshirt freshmen from other NCAA Division I schools, including pitchers Kyleigh Pitzer from the University of Louisiana and Lilian Berry from Penn State. Three of the newcomers are listed as utility players.
 
ON THE HORIZON: Next week, the Lions face one of the more impressive ASUN teams this season in a three game set — EKU. The series takes place March 29-30 in Richmond, Ky. The Lions and Colonels have a combined record of 41-13 heading into the weekend.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.