MOBILE, Ala. (February 20, 2026) – Senior pitcher Katie Simon had one of the best outings of her career for the University of North Alabama softball team on Friday, leading the way in a 7-0 shutout of Loyola Chicago on Day 1 of the South Alabama Invitational in Mobile, Ala.
North Alabama improves to 7-3 on the season, making this the sixth straight season with a .700 or better win percentage over the first 10 games. Loyola Chicago falls to 6-6.
Simon went the distance with just three hits and one walk allowed over 7.0 innings. She recorded eight strikeouts and threw 126 pitches in the win. This marks her first 7.0 inning shutout since March 1, 2025 against Oakland, where she had one walk and 10 strikeouts.
For the season, Simon improves to a 4-0 record. Her other wins are against Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee and Belmont.
As for the offense, UNA scored right around its season average with seven runs off the Ramblers. The production was wide-spread with six different Lions recording a hit.
"Super proud of how we came out," said UNA head coach Ashley Cozart. "In that second inning, we put up a four spot, and Loyola Chicago had just beaten UT Martin (earlier today) who was 7-2. Really proud of how we came out firing today."
Playing from the visiting dugout, UNA struck first in the top of the second on back-to-back RBI singles from true freshman Livy Huter and senior catcher Natalie Shaw. Back to the top of the order, senior Gyvan Hammons drove them both home with a two-RBI triple to make it 4-0. This was her first multi-base hit of the season.
Simon ended the third inning with her fourth strikeout, sending UNA to the fourth with momentum. A leadoff walk to Shaw led to a sacrifice fly by junior Briley Dover to score pinch runner Katie Davis and make it 5-0. Shaw entered today with the 10th most walks in the NCAA and added two more today to make it 12. Meanwhile, Dover has driven home six runs in the last four games.
Coming off her Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week award from Tuesday, sophomore first baseman Holly Merritt smashed a two-run homer in the fifth inning to score freshman pinch runner Claire Wright and make it 7-0. Senior Laura Leigh Wheeler set the table with a leadoff single.
With the 7-0 lead in hand, Simon retired nine of the final 10 batters. Four of those were strikeouts.
PITCHERS OF RECORD
W – Katie Simon (4-0)
L – Brooke Steinhorst (0-2)
S – N/A
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions rematch with the Ramblers tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and will immediately follow that game with a non-conference matchup against West Georgia at 11:30 a.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
