FLORENCE, Ala. (April 7, 2024) – Junior left-handed pitcher Alivia Wilken tossed her seventh shutout of the season for the University of North Alabama softball team, carving up the FGCU lineup in a dominant 5-0 win over the Eagles on Sunday in Florence, Ala.
Wilken scattered just four baserunners on three singles and a walk, but did not allow any runners past second base in a dominant performance. The Wallace State transfer had nine strikeouts Sunday afternoon, including six in the first four innings.
After the complete game shutout, Wilken moves to a 12-6 record and a 1.88 ERA over 124.1 innings. She also has 91 strikeouts this season to just 18 walks.
The UNA defense also had another error-less game — the 22nd time in 39 games.
While Wilken and the defense blanked the Eagles, the Purple & Gold bats went to work with five runs on eight hits. In a total team effort, seven Lions contributed those eight hits, including two by leadoff hitter Felicity Frame.
Four of those eight hits came in the first inning on four consecutive singles by Frame, Sidney Bevis, Briley Dover and Hailey Jones. Each single moved a runner station-to-station, as Jones drove in Frame on the fourth one. Dover's single in the first inning extended her on-base streak to 19 games.
UNA made the score 2-0 in the first inning after an RBI groundout by Becca Benton.
The Lions tacked on two more in the fourth inning, as Jaiden Farnetti drew a one-out walk and moved over on an infield single by Lillyanna Cartee. Frame came up with two outs and two on, blooping a two-RBI triple into right field to make it 4-0.
Haven Kirby touched home in the fifth for a fifth run, as she doubled and came home on a single by Farnetti.
With the win, the Lions improve to 26-14 overall and 7-5 in Atlantic Sun Conference games, while FGCU moves to 26-14 and 9-3. FGCU won both games of the Saturday doubleheader to win the three-game series.
Pitchers of Record
W – Angelina Bonilla (10-3)
L – Alivia Wilken (11-6)
S – Claire Maulding (1)
Next week, UNA hits the road for four games, starting with a midweek game at Tennessee State on Wednesday, April 10 at 5 p.m. in Nashville. This weekend, UNA will head to Central Arkansas for a three-game set April 13-14 in Conway, Ark.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
