CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 24, 2024) – University of North Alabama pitchers Alivia Wilken and Cassidy Duskin stole the show Sunday in Charlotte, pitching back-to-back shutouts to bolster a pair of wins over Queens to open a three-game road series.
 
Wilken was the star of the series opener, tossing a one-hit shutout with no walks and a career-high 15 strikeouts in a 6-0 victory. Wilken matched the UNA Division I single-game strikeout record, tying Megan Garst who set the record in 2020 against Northern Illinois. The school record is 16 set by Wendy Cannon in 2000.
 
Having to follow that performance was Duskin, who rose to the occasion and allowed just four hits with five strikeouts in a seven inning shutout. Duskin's performance came in a tighter ball game, as both UNA and Queens were scoreless through six innings. A go-ahead sac fly by Raegan Clem to score Lillyanna Cartee was the only run in a 1-0 win for the Lions.
 
Wilken and Duskin combined for 20 strikeouts. Neither pitcher allowed a walk.
 
True freshman Briley Dover saw her 10-game hitting streak come to an end Sunday, but she did extend her reached base streak to 12 games with two walks and two hit-by-pitches.
 
UNA improves to 23-9 overall and 5-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Meanwhile, Queens falls to 11-14 overall and 0-5 in ASUN play. The Royals have yet to score a run in five league games this season.
 
Game 1 — North Alabama 6, Queens 0
 
Wilken went against ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year Autumn Courtney in game one. The Lions were able to figure out Courtney, but the Royals were completely stumped by Wilken as the junior allowed nobody past second base.
 
Both pitchers retired the side to start the game, but UNA showed early signs of offense with a pair of walks in the second inning. Courtney escaped the jam, but allowed three singles in the third inning for UNA's first run. Back-to-back one-out singles by Felicity Frame and Sidney Bevis put two on, then allowed Haven Kirby to hit an RBI single to left field.
 
UNA blew the game open in the fifth inning with four runs, including a bases-loaded RBI by Dover who wore a pitch to earn it the hard way. In the next at-bat, Cartee — a Wallace State transfer — helped her JUCO teammate Wilken with a two-RBI double. Pinch hitter Jaiden Farnetti grounded home a run to make it 5-0.
 
In the following half inning, Wilken maintained her dominance by striking out the side. In fact, Wilken struck out the side in three of her seven innings and recorded at least one strikeout in every inning.
 
The Lions tacked on insurance in the seventh inning as Hailey Jones drilled a solo homer to right field. Wilken struck out the side to end the game, fanning 10 of the final 11 batters. The one that didn't strike out reached on a fielding error on a fly ball, but centerfielder Sydney Harris atoned for the mistake with a quick throw to second to throw out an overzealous runner at second.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (11-4)
L – Autumn Courtney (8-6)
S – None
 
Game 2— North Alabama 1, Queens 0
 
The pitchers shined in game two, as Duskin took on Jordan Dunn for Queens. Dunn allowed just three hits, but a leadoff single by Cartee led to the go-ahead run for UNA.
 
Cartee went 2-for-3 to lead the Lions in game two, including a second inning double. Frame had the other hit — an infield single in the fifth inning. Duskin allowed four hits, but both pitchers continuously escaped trouble through six innings.
 
Cartee's second hit of the day came on a bloop single to left field, starting the seventh with a base runner. She moved to second on a passed ball, then was bunted to third by McKenzie Patterson. This brought up Clem, who smoked the first pitch she saw high and deep to center field, allowing Cartee to tag up and score standing up.
 
Queens got a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh from cleanup hitter Lindsey DeRoeck. She was pinch ran for by Madyson Daughtry, who moved over on a sac bunt and a flyout. Standing on third, she was stranded after Duskin struck out the final batter in a 2-2 count.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Macey Ogle (1-1)
L –  Cassidy Duskin (6-4)
S – Ryleigh Sapp (1)
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions will look for the series sweep tomorrow at 10 a.m.
 
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