BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 13, 2025) – The University of North Alabama softball team opened its second in-state invitational of the season on Friday in Birmingham, splitting games against Lindenwood and Belmont at the Samford Tournament.
The Lions (5-2) started the morning with a 13-8 loss to a much-improved Lindenwood team that's off to its best start since 2022 with a 4-2 record. Despite the loss, UNA totaled 11 hits.
UNA quickly moved on from the loss and pulled off a 9-5 win over Belmont — a team that went 41-16 last season and won the Missouri Valley. Belmont (4-3) was also red hot coming into this contest, defeating No. 15 Georgia last weekend before falling to UNA five days later.
The Lions peppered the opposing pitchers today with 26 hits over two games. In the nightcap, all nine starters had at least one hit with four multi-hit games. Four Lions went over the fence in the two games, including the first UNA homers for sophomore Holly Merritt and senior Natalie Shaw.
In the circle, Katie Simon improved to a 3-0 record in the Belmont win, while senior ace Alivia Wilken rebounded from a tough loss to Lindenwood with a save against Belmont. She now has two saves on the year.
Game 1: Lindenwood 13, North Alabama 8
Two high-scoring innings spoiled an otherwise promising effort from UNA, as a late six run inning proved to be the difference in a 13-8 win for Lindenwood in the morning opener.
The five-run margin is the closest any team has been to Lindenwood in a loss this season, as Lindenwood beat Nicholls, Murray State and Northern Kentucky last weekend by a combined score of 26-5. UNA totaled more runs than all three opponents combined.
Lindenwood jumped on UNA early with five runs in the second inning, but UNA responded in a major way in the third with a grand slam off the bat of first baseman Holly Merritt. This marked her first homer as a Lion after transferring in this offseason from Miami (Ohio). UNA added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by infielder Briley Dover to tie the game.
The opposing Lions from Lindenwood got two more back in the bottom of the fourth, then UNA made it a one-run game again with an RBI single from junior transfer Hailey Minchew. This brought home Katie Davis, who came in to pinch run for Merritt after a leadoff double.
Trailing 7-6 in the sixth inning, Lindenwood all but put it away with a grand slam from Tori Hatton. UNA answered with two runs in the sixth on an RBI single from Laura Leigh Wheeler and a wild pitch in the next at-bat, but it would not be enough.
Senior Rylee Tittle was the bright spot in the circle, coming in for the final 1.2 innings and allowing just one hit in a shutout effort. Minchew led the offense with her first three-hit day of the season. She also stole a base.
Pitchers of Record
W – Samantha Roulanaitis (1-0)
L – Alivia Wilken (1-2)
S – None
Game 2: North Alabama 9, Belmont 5
A lot like the first game, UNA spread out its production over multiple innings. However, this game was won with clutch pitching in the circle for a 9-5 victory over Belmont.
Senior Katie Simon got the start and improved to a 3-0 record this season. She went 5.1 innings and allowed just four runs — three earned — while scattering six hits and striking out four. Alivia Wilken came in relief and pitched 1.2 innings for the save. She entered during a 7-4 lead with the tying run at the plate and shut it down, then allowed just one run on a solo homer before closing the seventh with a win.
The UNA offense came out strong in this one, as all nine starters got in the hit column. Eight of the nine have been regular starters this season, while the other was sophomore Kylei Russell, who has normally played outfield but started at second base. Dover moved back to shortstop for the first time this season — a position she played all of last season.
Russell had one of three doubles in the offensive on-slaught. Wheeler, who celebrated a birthday today, had the other two doubles in a 3-for-4 day. She and Merritt both had three-hit days.
Three Lions homered in this one, including Dover and last week's hero, Emma Kate Wright. Wright homered for the second time this season and the third time in her career. The other was senior catcher Natalie Shaw, who hit a solo shot in the fifth inning for her first career homer. Shaw and Dover each had two hits and two RBI.
Belmont struck first with a run in the second, but Russell, Shaw and senior Gyvan Hammons flipped the lead with back-to-back-to-back RBI hits from the 8-9-1 spots. Belmont tied it again in the fourth, but then UNA took the lead for good in the bottom half on a two-run homer from Dover.
Wright and Shaw extended the lead to 7-3 with a pair of solo shots, then Merritt and Wright tacked on two more in the next inning to make it 9-4. Belmont mustered one more run, but nothing else.
Pitchers of Record
W – Katie Simon (3-0)
L – Hannah Leierer (1-2)
S – Alivia Wilken (2)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions end their weekend on Saturday against Belmont and Samford. First pitch is at 3 p.m. with the second game immediately following.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
