FLORENCE, Ala. (April 5, 2024) – The top two pitching teams in the Atlantic South Conference will meet at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium this weekend, as the University of North Alabama softball team welcomes FGCU for a three game set April 6-7 in Florence.
The Lions and Eagles have the two lowest ERAs in the conference, as FGCU leads the league with an impressive 1.82 ERA followed closely by UNA at 2.24. Both marks rank among the top 25 in Division I softball.
The series begins with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 and will conclude with the series finale on Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m.
Saturday's game will be a "Green Out" in support of the Alabama Kidney Foundation. UNA Athletics will have green T-shirts available at the stadium to help raise money for the Shoals Kidney Walk in honor of Hilda B. Anderson. One-hundred percent of proceeds will go to AKF.
All three games will be available on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and UNA Hall of Famer Ande Jones on the call. Fans are also encouraged to follow along on live stats and on the UNA Softball
Facebook and
Twitter pages.
GAME 1
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Saturday, April 6
2 p.m.
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
GAME 2
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Saturday, April 6
4:30 p.m.
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
GAME 3
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Sunday, April 7
10 a.m.
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Last weekend, UNA battled EKU in a power struggle for the top of the ASUN. The Colonels took the first two games in a Friday doubleheader, but the Lions powered back on Sunday with a 2-1 win in the finale. UNA ended a 17-game winning streak for EKU in the finale, while handing EKU its first conference loss of the season.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA is 25-11 overall and 6-3 in ASUN play, ranking fourth in the ASUN standings. UNA is the only team to rank among the top four ASUN teams in the major hitting-pitching-fielding metrics, ranking fourth with a .270 batting average and second in both ERA at 2.24 and fielding percentage at .976.
Felicity Frame is the leading hitter for UNA with a .422 batting average, while
Alivia Wilken leads the pitching staff with an 11-5 record and 1.96 ERA over 110.1 innings.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: FGCU enters the weekend with a 24-13 overall record and a 7-2 mark in ASUN play, sitting one game ahead of UNA in a tie for second place with North Florida. The Eagles have the top pitching staff in the league with a combined 1.96 ERA, led by the efforts of Allison Sparkman with an 0.90 ERA and Angelica Bonilla with a 1.05 ERA. Riley Oakes is the leading hitter for FGCU with 36 hits and a .316 batting average.
SERIES HISTORY: UNA and FGCU have played nine times, including five games as Division II opponents in 2005 and 2006. The most recent four have come during UNA's move to Division I in 2019. FGCU leads the series with a 6-3 record, including a three-game sweep in Florence in 2019. UNA won the most recent matchup last season during the ASUN Championship Tournament, earning a thrilling 6-5 win in DeLand, Fla. in the winner's bracket.
POWER TRIO: Infielders
Haven Kirby,
Hailey Jones and
Briley Dover have been dangerous at the plate this season, combining for 13 homers, 23 doubles and seven triples. The three also combine for 66 of UNA's 131 RBIs this season.
SHUTOUT QUEENS: UNA's pitching trio of Wilken,
Cassidy Duskin and
Kyleigh Pitzer rank eighth in the nation in shutouts, as all three tossed one at Queens two weekends ago in Charlotte. Wilken leads the staff with six shutouts.
WELCOME BACK TO FLORENCE: Of the nine meetings between UNA and FGCU, five have been played in Florence and four have happened at a neutral site. The Lions have never made the trip to Fort Myers, Fla. for softball.
WE'RE NOT IN FLORIDA ANYMORE: This weekend will mark the first time FGCU has left the state of Florida for a game this season, playing the first 38 games in the Sunshine State. Meanwhile, UNA has played games in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina. The Lions will make a trip to Central Arkansas next weekend for the fifth state of the season.
COACHING MAINSTAYS: FGCU head coach David Deiros and UNA head coach
Ashley Cozart are two of the four longest tenured coaches in the ASUN along with EKU's Jane Worthington and Lipscomb's Kristin Ryman. Deiros is the only head coach in FGCU history with 22 seasons, while Cozart is in her 11th at North Alabama. The two combine for 1,329 career wins.
ON THE HORIZON: UNA will leave one marquee ASUN series for another next weekend, as the Lions welcome FGCU to Florence on April 6-7 at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium. Like EKU, the Eagles are currently 6-0 in ASUN play and are 23-11 overall.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
