FLORENCE, Ala. (February 19, 2026) – The University of North Alabama baseball team hosts the Saint Louis Billikens for the second weekend series of the season beginning on Friday with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium. This is the final three games of an eight-game home stretch to start the season.
Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast. The Friday and Sunday games will be streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and his broadcast partner Douglas Hargett on commentary.
North Alabama vs. Saint Louis
Friday, February 20, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets
North Alabama vs. Saint Louis
Saturday, February 21, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Tickets
North Alabama vs. Saint Louis
Sunday, February 22, 2026
1:00 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+| Tickets
NOTES
THE RUNDOWN: The University of North Alabama baseball team earned its first midweek win of the season over Murray State in run rule fashion, 15-5. Last season, Murray State finished 44-17, won the Oxford Regional and advanced past Duke in the Durham Super Regional to make the College World Series. The Lions used 11 hits with four home runs to score at least one run in every inning except the first and sixth. For the 15 runs, 15 RBIs accompanied them; last season, UNA had only one game of 15 RBIs or more which came against Austin Peay on April 13 with 16. Eight of the 15 RBIs came with two-outs.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the third, fourth and fifth all-time meetings between the two programs. The Lions are 1-1 in this series after playing a two-game series in 2025 with UNA leaving with the final win, 8-1 in Pearl, Miss. The third and final game was canceled due to weather.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS: Saint Louis opened the season with a series against Ohio State in Pensacola, Fla. playing the three-game series in two days with a doubleheader on Feb. 14. The Billikens followed that up with a trip to Cape Girardeau to play SEMO; all four games ended in a loss for SLU. The Billikens have not amassed more than three runs in a game so far this season. Saint Louis tied for third with 98 points in the A10 preseason polls following Rhode Island, George Mason and Saint Joseph's.
THE PEARL OF THE PITCH: The only series matchup for these programs came only a season ago in the famed Pearl, Miss. series. Originally this series was planned to play in Saint Louis before a winter storm moved the game to Millington, Tenn. When trying to find the correct facilities for the weekend, the closest came at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. which switched North Alabama into the home dugout. Trustmark Park is the former home of the Mississippi Braves, which was a Southern League Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
BLASTING BOMBS: On Wednesday, junior transfer catcher Will Millard hit two home runs in just the fifth game of the year. Last season, there were only two such instances but the Lions did not see these occurrences until May. Petey Craska hit two in the final regular season against Central Arkansas which ended in a 3-0 series sweep. Nash Rippen had the other game where he hit two home runs in the North Florida win during the ASUN Tournament postseason run. In 2025, UNA hit 38 total home runs across the 55 games, so far through five games the Lions have six under their belt.
THESE RUNS RULE: North Alabama got a win over the 2025 Cinderella story of collegiate baseball — Murray State — on Wednesday. The 15-5 score ended the day after just seven innings and became the first run rule win for UNA since the Bellarmine 11-1 win last season when the Mike D. Lane field portion opened at Bank Independent Stadium.
MIDWEEK MADNESS: UNA earned their first midweek win over Murray State after only two midweek games so far, this season. Last year, it took six midweek games before the Lions broke through with their first midweek win of the season. However, it was a tough slate as the Lions fell in close games to the likes of No. 25 Auburn (6-2), No. 1 Tennessee (7-5), No. 10 Alabama (4-3) and Murray State (5-3) before breaking through against Middle Tennessee on April 8 with a 5-2 win.
THINGS TO KNOW: For more things to know on the opening of Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium, click here.
PARKING: Due to worship services, the College View Church of Christ parking lot will be unavailable for Sunday's game. Fans are welcome to park at College View for sporting events except on Sundays and Wednesdays. Students, faculty and staff can park in the designated area Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking can also be found alongside Stewart and one side of Cumberland; the other side will be coned off.
UP NEXT: After the two midweek games against UAB and Murray State, the Lions host Saint Louis for a weekend series at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium on Friday, Feb. 20.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
