FLORENCE, Ala. (April 26, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team fell 9-4 to Central Arkansas in the series opener on Friday at Mike D. Lane Field behind three crucial UCA home runs. 
 
UNA redshirt sophomore infielder Gehrig Frei extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the series opener with a single and double.
 
The Lions fall to 14-25 on the season, while the Bears Improve to 18-22. UNA falls to 6-13 in ASUN Conference play and are now two games back of UCA at 8-11.
 
The Lions and Bears traded the lead twice on Friday before Central Arkansas exploded for five runs in the fifth inning. UNA attempted a comeback in the sixth with a two-out rally to cut the UCA lead to 6-4 before the Bears tacked on three more runs in the final three frames.  
 
Central Arkansas wasted no time opening up the scoring with a pair of singles before a fielder's choice brought home the first run in the top of the first inning. 
 
North Alabama starting pitcher Jacob James settled after the first inning, tossing three consecutive scoreless frames. James finished his outing with eight strikeouts across 6.0 innings. The southpaw from Loretto, Tenn. moves closer to becoming UNA's all-time strikeout leader, sitting just 17 strikeouts behind Chad Boughner after Friday's start. 
 
The Lions jumped out in front in the bottom of the third inning following a Frei fielder's choice and a Kyle Machado sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. UNA extended the lead in the fourth with a Bryant Loving single that brought home Jonathan Lane. 
 
Central Arkansas loaded the bases in the fifth inning, pushing a run across on an RBI single before a Bryce Cerminelli grand slam gave the Bears their second lead of the game. 
 
Andrew Knight attempted to ignite a two-out rally in the sixth with a double down the left field line before a Lane double brought Knight around to score. UCA launched two more home runs in the final three innings to extend the lead out to 9-4 and give the Bears the series opening victory. 
 
Frei tallied two hits in the contest, including a double in the first inning, to improve his season batting average to .351. Frei also extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the pair of hits, the longest streak by a North Alabama hitter this season. 
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Jesse Barker (2-3)
L – Jacob James (4-4)
S – Hunter Alexander (6)
 
COMING UP NEXT
  
UNA and UCA return to Mike D. Lane field on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m. for game two before concluding the series on Sunday, April 28 at 1 p.m.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.