MADISON, Ala. (February 14, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team split their opening day doubleheader against Army West Point on Friday afternoon, hosted by the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Toyota Field in Madison, Ala.
The Lions lost the first game 6-1 before returning with a triumphant win in game two, 3-2. UNA finished the day with a 1-1 record in their first-ever pair of games against the Black Knights. The series is currently scheduled to conclude Saturday at 2 p.m.
Game 1 — Army 6, North Alabama 1
The defense proved tough for both sides in the first matchup, as the Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Junior left fielder Nash Rippen bombed a ball over the right fielder's head to grab a quick double, helping move lead-off hitter and captain Jonathan Lane to third.
Sophomore center fielder Alex Wade joined the base paths by way of hit by pitch. As the bases were loaded catcher Matthew Delgado grounded into a fielder's choice from the catcher to grab the RBI.
The next score did not come until the top of the fifth as the Black Knights scored three. Thomas Schreck singled with three on base to bring in Ethan Ellis. After the tying run, Army's Addison Ainsworth walked while snagging an RBI to go up 2-1. A wild pitch led to third Black Knight fifth inning run.
Army scored two more in the top of the sixth off of a fielder's choice and a single to left field. The Black Knights added the sixth and final run in the top of the eighth to secure the win.
The top-five Lion batters were the lone ones to record hits in the first game. Lane and Delgado combined for four of the six hits. Graduate transfer right fielder RJ Sherwood made it on the bases with a walk.
A mix of new faces on the mound entered after team captain and starting ace Brycen Parrish finished his five innings of work with four strikeouts and only two hits. The six-foot-six senior right-handed pitcher Hunter Bell graced the mound striking out four more. Graduate right-handed pitcher Kyle Lewis finalized the last inning for the Lions.
Pitchers of Record
W – Justin Lehman (1-0)
L – Brycen Parrish (0-1)
S – Trey Ates (1)
Game 2 —North Alabama 3, Army 2
UNA head coach Jad Prachniak changed the lineups around a little bit in the second one. Several freshmen got the nod as Wes Walker started at catcher and left hander Tripp Patterson toed the rubber. Redshirt junior Jackson Ferrigno started at third, while Alex Wilson filled in for Wade in centerfield.
Game one started like the latter with North Alabama scoring first again in the bottom of the second. Wilson singled up the middle for an RBI as Ferrigno scored off of his initial walk to open the inning.
Yet again, the Black Knights answered in the top of the fifth, this time with a single run. Third baseman and Huntsville native Paul Andrzejewski got on by way of walk then advanced off of a single from Schreck. Left-fielder JT Craig gave a sacrifice bunt that put Andrzejewski in prime position to score. He did so on the next at-bat from Ainsworth on a ground-out RBI.
The Lions found their answer in the bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the seventh. The start of the two unanswered runs started with Wes Walker's single to left field. Pinch runner Ethan Walker stole second before moving to third off of a Ferrigno ground out. Freshman first baseman Petey Craska raked in an RBI as he crushed a ball to right center, leading to the go ahead run.
Rippen made his name known again with a double to left center in the bottom of the seventh. Wade flew out for the second out. Delgado pinch hit for Wes Walker and singled to right field to help Rippen fly in for the score to make it 3-1.
Army made it interesting as they opened the top of the ninth. Senior right-handed pitcher Dylan Morrill walked the first batter and then the second before a Coleson Titus sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position.
Lehman, now playing first base, grounded out to senior shortstop Leighton Jenkins as Ainsworth scored to pull within one and leave the tying run on third with two outs.
Michael Delph stepped in to pinch hit for Ethan Ellis and on the first pitch grounded out to team captain Lane, as he flicked the wrist to first for the final out to secure the first win of the 2025 season.
Craska and Rippen led the way with two hits in three of their at-bats. Craska, Delgado and Wilson each notched an RBI in the second matchup. Pinch runner Ethan Walker stole the lone base of the contests for either team.
The Lions dropped their strikeouts from eight to six between the two games but added two errors compared to their game one total of zero.
Patterson went 5.2 innings in this one before Morrill filled in for the remaining 3.1 of the game. Patterson threw three strikeouts in his debut, while Morrill notched a team-high five for the day in 11 batters faced.
Pitchers of Record
W – Dylan Morril (1-0)
L – Mark Abell (0-1)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions are scheduled for one more game tomorrow, beginning at 2 p.m. against Army.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
