FLORENCE, Ala. (April 29, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team won its first midweek game at newly opened Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium against UT Martin on Tuesday, winning 3-1. 

Freshman lefty Reese Young went 6.0 innings and earned his second win of the season as he threw six scoreless innings for a quality start. 

The Lions (16-26, 10-11 ASUN) hit .333 as a team with 10 hits today. This marks the third-best batting average for the Lions in a game this season. North Alabama's pitching crew did not allow any earned runs fo the fourth time this season.  

UT Martin (16-27, 7-10 OVC) threw four pitchers for the game with JP Nunn throwing four innings. The Skyhawks were held to a .129 batting with just four hits.  

The Lions hit .400 with two outs and .375 with runners on. North Alabama used a two-run fifth inning to take the lead before adding a final run in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.  

Four North Alabama batters had two-hit games, and three different Lions scored.  

UNA threw only two pitchers for the game with Young earning the start and win. Dylan Morrill came in during the seventh inning and closed out the game for his third save. 

Young tossed six scoreless innings and saw more than three batters only twice, with the fourth inning only yielding four plate appearances.  

Jonathan Lane, Wes Walker, Nash Rippen and Leighton Jenkins all had the two hits with Lane earning himself the team's first triple since March 22 against Eastern Kentucky.  

When Austin Gast entered in the bottom of the fifth, Lane took advantage with a shot down the left field line that evaded a diving left fielder and made its way to the purple monster – name pending.  

Petey Craska had a sacrifice fly to center that earned him another RBI and gave the Lions the lead. Matthew Delgado walked and Walker singled before Nash Rippen put one in right field for the second score. 

The top of the eighth saw a single from the Skyhawks. A fielder's choice and a bunt moved runners into scoring position. Jenkins got the next ball at shortstop and sent it to third for an out but a runner scored to cut the lead, 2-1. 

RJ Sherwood walked in the bottom of the eighth. He advanced on a wild pitch before Bryant Loving walked the next at-bat. Jenkins singled to left field for an RBI and gave an insurance run for the 3-1 lead. 

North Alabama wins their third of four midweek games in April. The Lions will play UT Martin next Tuesday in Martin, Tenn.  

Pitchers of Record 
W – Reese Young (2-1) 
L –  Austin Gast (1-1) 
S – Dylan Morrill (3) 

COMING UP NEXT 
North Alabama brings Lipscomb to Florence, Ala. on Friday, May 2 for an ASUN weekend series. The Lions lost the first series 2-1. 

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.