MADISON, Ala. (February 15, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team secured a series win in its season opening series against Army West Point on Saturday afternoon, hosted by the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Toyota Field in Madison, Ala.
The Lions held the Black Knights scoreless in the series finale to win 5-0. North Alabama starts 2-1 for the first time since reaching the Division I ranks. This is the best start to a season since 2016, when the Lions began 4-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In all three games this weekend, the Lions got the first score. In the bottom of the first, senior captain Jonathan Lane reached first on a single to left field. Junior transfer Nash Rippen sent a heater to second that was bobbled as he made it to first off the error. Sophomore transfer Alex Wade stepped in and sent a single in between third and short to push Lane across the plate for the opening score.
A wild pitch later, Rippen elevated to third with Wade at second. On a sacrifice fly from senior transfer Matthew Delgado to right field, Rippen doubled the total 2-0.
Senior right-handed pitcher Anthony Pingeton was on fire in his season debut, as he saw 21 total batters in six innings and did not face more than three batters in a frame until the top of the fifth.
The game stayed quiet until the bottom of the fourth when Delgado sent grounder to second base that forced a throwing error to where he advanced to second. Another wild pitch made Delgado sit on third. Redshirt junior Jackson Ferrigno doubled to the gap in left center that sent Delgado walking across home plate.
Army started to get going in the fifth inning, like they had all series long. The Lions notched their first out on a line out from catcher Coleson Titus. Pingeton hit the next batter up, which put first baseman Justin Lehman on first. Left fielder JT Craig flew out in the next at-bat before designated hitter Mark Abell singled to right field. A Black Knight in scoring position, third baseman Paul Andrzejewski sent a missile to Ferrigno which he elected to end the inning at second base with a force out.
Army changed pitchers at the beginning of the fifth where Robbie Penswick substituted for Bryce Brownlee. Penswick went three-up and three-down.
Pingeton started the beginning of the sixth with two strikeouts, both at 2-2 counts. As he walked center fielder Addison Ainsworth on a 3-2 count, he retired the final batter after working back from another 3-2 count to strike him out swinging.
The Lions wanted to ride away into the sunset in the eight inning as Delgado knocked the first home run of the 2025 season. Fans did not have to wait long for the second homer as first baseman Petey Craska soared the second one in the very next at-bat over the right field wall.
Senior right-handed pitcher Carson Howard filled in at the top of the seventh for Pingeton and went three innings with two strikeouts to secure the save.
The Lions notched seven hits with five RBIs on the day. Four different UNA players scored, two runs coming from Delgado.
Pitchers of Record
W – Anthony Pingeton (1-0)
L – Bryce Brownlee (0-1)
S – Carson Howard (1)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions face their first SEC opponent in Auburn at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The first pitch is schedule for 4 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
