BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 14, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team joined the win column after a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Central Arkansas Bears at Young Memorial Field on Friday night. Freshman first baseman Petey Craska delivered a shot over the center fielder's head with bases loaded in a 2-2 count to score Leighton Jenkins for the winning run.
Per usual, the Lions started early in this one. Two Lion walks to open the game helped out Matthew Delgado who only had to send one through the middle so designated hitter Zak Maker could score. Craska grounded into a double play for the next one but helped put Ryker Billingsley on third. A bobble from the second baseman could not get the out at first which led to Billingsley notching a second run.
Friday night starter Brycen Parrish worked early from the rubber as he cruised through three batters in the first two innings by way of strikeout.
The third inning saw a run for both teams add to the scoreboard. A left center double for the lead off led to the next batter getting a single putting two Bears in prime position to score. A sacrifice fly from the third batter scored the run.
The Lions made it simple. No one on base, Delgado stepped up and raked one over the right field wall for a single-shot home run to move the score up 3-1.
The fourth inning was Central Arkansas'. A walk then single put two on base in the first three batters. A left field double scored one while the next batter doubled to right field scoring two more, giving the Bears their first lead of the night.
UCA pushed the lead to 5-3 with a solo-shot homer in the top of the fifth. However, the Lions answered in the bottom of the fifth, with their own solo-shot homer from Nash Rippen.
At the top of the sixth, Parrish ended his day with 52 strikes in 87 pitches with four strikeouts in five innings of work. In step senior right-hander Dylan Morrill who went the rest of the way.
He opened his night up with two straight Bear strikeouts, needing only seven pitches to catch one swinging and the other looking. His next inning of worked produced two more strikeouts, both by way of swinging.
In the bottom of the seventh, Central Arkansas enlisted Hunter Alexander to close out the game on the mound. He struck out the first Lion but walked the next. Rippen singled to center field to move the runner forward. A fielders choice on a Jonathan Lane hit forced a throwing error that loaded the bases for North Alabama.
Head Coach Jad Prachniak made a change at batter, up to the plate came freshman Wes Walker. He saw two balls before his first strike. He then fouled off three consecutive balls to continue battling. Alexander threw two more balls to walk the freshman. Craska notched the tying run as Walker pumped his chest and bat flipped heading to first.
For the final two innings, both teams were held scoreless as the pitchers dueled. This one, took a 10th inning.
As Morrill continued his day, he struck out the first Bear in the top of the 10th. The next batter singled to left field but a grounder to third went to Lane at second then Craska at first to secure the double play and end the inning.
Senior shortstop Jenkins led off in extras for UNA and saw a 1-2 count early, but on the fourth pitch singled it out to right center. Majer found his way on base by a walk after seven pitches which put Alexander back in the pen as a new UCA pitcher came in.
Billingsley laid down a bunt to the pitcher, moving the runners around for the first out of the inning. Next up to bat, Delgado, who the Bears elected to intentionally walk.
Bases loaded. One out. Extra Innings. Craska stepped to the plate. The defense walked it in so they could make the force out at home.
A fastball whizzed down the middle as Craska fouled it off. Two straight balls were watched before he fouled off one more for a 2-2 count. Finally, Craska got ahold of the fifth pitch sending it clear over the center fielder's head to score Jenkins.
As soon as he touched first base, the dugout cleared to celebrate the opening ASUN game one win, 6-5.
Morrill made a statement in his five innings, only allowing two hits but mounting eight strikeouts in only 17 batters faced. 49 total strikes out of the 71 pitches thrown for the senior. The eight strikeouts are the most by a pitcher this season.
As a team the Lions amassed 13 hits, where four batters had two or more hits on the day. This is the most hits in a game this season, ranking just above the LSU game three where they finished with 11. The two home runs tie for the most in a game. North Alabama also had 41 at-bats the most in any game this season.
Rippen's three hits tonight tie with Jayden Sloan and Delgado for most in a single game. Delgado's 14 putouts become the most this year.
"Great team win to start conference play," said Prachniak. "We got contributions from a bunch of guys in all areas of the game. Our players fought hard to earn a win against a quality opponent."
Pitchers of Record
W – Dylan Morrill (2-0)
L – Alexander Hunter (2-2)
S – N/A
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions continue the weekend series on Sunday, March 16 for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. with the second game following 40 minutes after. The Saturday, March 15 game was rescheduled due to the chance of inclement weather.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
