BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 14, 2026) – Valentine's Day started with a heartbreaker for the University of North Alabama softball team, but the afternoon brought a hearty run-rule victory over tournament host Samford on Saturday in Birmingham.
In one of the most thrilling games of the Samford Tournament this weekend, the Lions held a slight one-run lead before falling to Belmont on an afternoon walk-off, 4-3. Just two hours later, UNA left Samford with a 10-2 victory over six innings against the hosting Bulldogs.
All four teams leave Samford with two wins and two losses in a perfectly competitive round-robin. The Lions fell to Lindenwood and defeated Belmont yesterday.
The Lions are now 6-3 for the season. Belmont moves to 5-4 and Samford falls to 4-6. Lindenwood left town earlier today with a 5-3 record.
After two weekends of action, three Lions are batting over .400 with sophomore transfer Holly Merritt leading the way with a .464 batting average. She finished 8-for-15 for the weekend and added six RBI. Junior Briley Dover and senior Laura Leigh Wheeler, both all-conference caliber players, are also batting over .400.
The home run power continued this weekend with long balls from Merritt and Bayleigh Rouse in the Saturday opener. The Lions combine for 11 homers from six players, including five of those with two apiece. UNA also finishes the weekend fourth in the ASUN with a .329 batting average.
In the circle, fifth-year senior Alivia Wilken turned in another complete game victory, while senior Rylee Tittle and sophomore Kaylee Snyder turned in respectable outings in their combined effort against Belmont.
Defensively, the Lions had no errors for the fourth and fifth time this season.
Game 1: Belmont 4, North Alabama 3
In perhaps the most competitive battle for UNA this season, the Lions were one out away from a signature two-game sweep over a 2025 NCAA Regional Finalist. However, a two-RBI single by Tallulah Eichholz allowed Belmont to win 4-3 on a walk-off and salvage a split.
Saturday's result did not favor UNA, but the Lions turned in a respectable performance with Tittle and Snyder each going 3.1 innings. Both pitchers allowed just two runs, including 3.0 shutout innings from Snyder up until the final play.
Belmont was able to earn 11 hits, but UNA forced the Bruins to strand eight baserunners. The Lions made the most of their hits with four on the day, including a pair of home runs from Rouse and Merritt in the fourth inning. Down 2-0, Rouse tied the game with a shot to left, while Merritt had the go-ahead homer in right-center.
Prior to Rouse, Dover had a double to get on base. The other Lion to get a hit was Gyvan Hammons with a leadoff single to centerfield in the opening frame.
Pitchers of Record
W – May Johnson (4-0)
L – Kaylee Snyder (1-1)
S – None
Game 2: North Alabama 10, Samford 2 (6 innings)
UNA did not dwell on the heartbreaking opener, getting off the mat and pummeling the tournament host for a 10-2 victory. The 10th run and a shutout inning by starting ace Alivia Wilken helped the Lions depart Birmingham one inning earlier than scheduled.
The Lions totaled 12 hits while limiting Samford to just six. UNA had five players with multi-hit days, including a 3-for-4 day for Emma Kate Wright. The Florence native drove home three runs, while Dover did the same with a bases-clearing three-RBI double.
UNA also took advantage of five errors from Samford, bringing home seven unearned runs.
Wilken had one of her best outings of the season, pitching 6.0 innings with just two runs allowed on six hits. She did not walk anyone and totaled three strikeouts. Wilken is now 2-2 for the season and owns two saves — leading all pitchers in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Samford struck for two early runs, but the Lions exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning to take command. The third inning cut the lead to one as Natalie Shaw singled home Wright to make it 2-1. The seven-run rally started with a leadoff hit from Wheeler and later a go-ahead two-RBI single from Wright.
Now playing with a lead, the Lions took advantage of a prolonged inning with an RBI from freshman Livy Huter, who reached on an error. After a walk to Shaw and a single by Hammons, all three came around to score on Dover's double. Rouse sac flied to score Dover.
Wright singled home another as Merritt scored to make it 9-2 in the fifth. Wheeler hit an RBI single in the sixth to score Dover again, resulting in the 10th run. Wilken got two quick outs in the seventh and then stranded two runners with a pop up to end it.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (2-2)
L – Makinley Turner (2-2)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will play five games next week at the South Alabama Invitational from Feb. 20-22. The tournament begins with two games against Loyola Chicago, then games against fellow ASUN member West Georgia and nearby OVC opponent UT Martin. The Lions will play directional rival South Alabama to end things next Sunday afternoon.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
