LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 7, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team took the final game of the series against the Bellarmine Knights on Monday, April 7 by a score of 5-3.
 
The Lions (9-20, 6-6 ASUN) held the Knights to their fifth -owest run total of the season and their second-lowest batting average against a conference opponent. UNA also had fives across the board with five hits, five runs and five RBIs.
 
Bellarmine (8-23, 4-8 ASUN) was led by Landon Akers as he had two of the three hits on the afternoon. He also secured two runs for the final game as well. The Knights boasted six hits on the day with a .194 batting average as a whole.
 
Ryker Billingsley and Bryant Loving both earned a pair of RBIs. Loving went 2-for-3 with a run as well. Five different Lions secured a run with Leighton Jenkins, Jonathan Lane and Ethan Walker each having one aside from Billingsley and Loving.
 
Brycen Parrish got the start and went seven innings with 26 batters faced while earning his third win of the season. He struck out three batters while throwing 63 strikes in 98 pitches. Luke Davenport filled in for the final two innings where he earned a save, tossing 22 strikes in 28 total pitches.
 
This game resembled a lot of the first as both defenses worked. UNA finished with zero errors for the ninth time this season. Bellarmine also scored first in this one, a lot like game one.
 
Akers secured the first hit for the Knights with a single up the middle. He then stole second before another single moved him to third. A sacrifice bunt got him in for the inaugural run of the game.
 
Loving got to work in the top of the third with a single. Jenkins showed his bat with a double to right field to sit both Lions in scoring position. Billingsley then doubled down the left field line to get two RBIs and the lead. Craska then singled to put runners on the corner and Wes Walker flied out to right field which led to Billingsley being able to score for the 3-1 lead.
 
Lane walked in the top of the fourth. A sacrifice bunt from Alex Wade moved Lane to second. Loving earned an RBI as he singled up the middle for Lane to extend the lead, 4-1.
 
Akers started it again for the Knights in the sixth with a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and a ground out to second helped place him on third. Another wild pitch helped score him and cut the lead.
 
However, the Lions answered again with a Rippen walk. Ethan Walker pinch ran for Rippen and the Lane walked to put two on base. Wade walked to secure a loaded diamond. Loving flew out to center for another sacrifice fly as Walker touched home for the 5-2 lead.
 
Bellarmine was not done yet as they made a push in the ninth. A Knight singled in the second at-bat and then advanced on a wild pitch. A fly out secured the runner a spot at third. A pinch hitter singled to center to score one for the Knights.  
 
However, Loving got the final ground ball at third to get the out to Lane at second to finalize the game 5-3 and secure the win.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Brycen Parrish (3-4)
L –  Aaron Ragat (0-5)
S – Luke Davenport (1)
 
 
COMING UP NEXT
Including the series against Bellarmine, the Lions are in the midst of a five-game stretch in four days. North Alabama hosts the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Mark Lee Legacy Field at Patriot Park in Muscles Shoals, Ala. tomorrow Tuesday, April 8 at 4:00 p.m.
 
The Lions then will head to Birmingham, Ala. where they play host to the Belmont Bruins at Rickwood Field starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9.
 
North Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Live Stats
 
North Alabama vs. Belmont – Rickwood Field
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Live Stats
 
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS: Middle Tennessee is currently 15-16 on the season with a 2-7 CUSA conference record. The Blue Raiders recently dropped their three-game series against Liberty in Lynchburg, Va. losing by double digit runs in two of the contests. MTSU is 1-7 away from Reese Smith Jr. Field this season but boasts a 14-9 home record. Eston Snider leads the way offensively with a .379 batting average, 47 hits, 18 steals and 11 doubles on the season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 14^th meeting between the two programs since 1984 but the two have only met once since the transition to Division I. The Lions traveled to Murfreesboro, Tenn. last season where they fell 9-2. The Blue Raiders homered four times in the game to take the win at home.
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS: Before their first meeting, Belmont had a 1-10 record. Now they sit at 13-20 with a 4-5 OVC record with a two-game winning streak. Daniel Pete leads the way offensively with a .375 batting average, 45 hits on the year and 10 doubles. They have eight games this season with 10 or more runs, all wins. The .121 batting average from the first game is the fifth lowest for the Bruins this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This is the 23rd all-time meeting between these two squads. The Lions are 13-9 since 1984 and 2-7 in the Division I era. This will be the second game between the two this season with the first game going to Belmont in extra innings 5-4. The last time that they won in this matchup came in 2020 with a 1-0 win in Florence, Ala.
 
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