MOBILE, Ala. (February 22, 2026) – The University of North Alabama softball team ended a successful run at the South Alabama Invitational with four wins and one loss, as the Lions won 8-4 against UT Martin before falling 5-0 to South Alabama on Sunday in Mobile.

The Lions return home with a 10-4 record and as winners of five of the last six games. UNA and South Alabama were the last two teams to play each other, and both entered undefeated in weekend play.

UNA outscored its five opponents by a 26-13 score, averaging just over five runs per game with just under three runs per game allowed. The Lions hit .312 for the weekend while limiting opponents to .205.

Junior Bayleigh Rouse was the catalyst this weekend, going 9-for-17 with two homers, a double, five RBI and a .529 batting average. Senior Katie Simon led the pitching staff with a low 1.05 ERA over 13.1 innings.

In the Sunday opener, Simon entered in relief and picked up the win to improve to a 5-0 record this season. She also pitched 2.2 innings of relief against South Alabama with just two runs allowed — her only two of the weekend.

This marks the third straight tournament where UNA has finished .500 or higher. UNA left both Troy and South Alabama with four wins and a loss to the host school, while going 2-2 at Samford last week.
 

Game 1: North Alabama 8, UT Martin 4

The first game of the day came against a UT Martin team that entered with a 9-4 record. It went back-and-forth until UNA scored four runs in the sixth inning for an 8-4 victory over the Skyhawks.

This extended a five-game win streak for the Lions and improved UNA to a 9-2 record in neutral site games.

Coming off her first win as a Lion yesterday vs. Loyola Chicago, senior transfer Rylee Tittle faced her former school on Sunday. The former Deshler High School standout spent one season at UT Martin before transferring closer to home at UNA this offseason. She pitched 3.1 innings with three runs allowed against her former team.

The game went back-and-forth as UNA got one on the board early with a sac fly from Holly Merritt in the first inning. UT Martin took a 2-1 lead in the third on a two-RBI single, then UNA tied it back up with a solo homer from Rouse — her fourth of the season.

UT Martin had a two-run homer in the fourth to snatch back the lead, but UNA once again had an answer in the bottom of the frame. Rouse once again tied it with a two-RBI single to bring home sophomore Briley Dover and senior Katie Davis.

Simon took over for the final 3.2 innings and did not allow any hits or runs. Meanwhile, UNA had a four-run sixth inning to go from a tie to a doubled-up lead. Senior Laura Leigh Wheeler had an RBI single to score Rouse for the go-ahead run, then freshman Livy Huter hit a two-RBI single to score Wheeler and Emma Kate Wright. Huter then scored on a wild pitch.

Simon's final inning went three-up, three-down with a strikeout, lineout and groundout.

UNA had nine hits with a 3-for-3 day from Rouse. This is her second time with three hits this season, as the first time came against Southern in the first tournament of the season at Troy.
 

Pitchers of Record
W – Katie Simon (5-0)
L – Natalie Kreuziger (2-2)
S – None
 

Game 2: South Alabama 5, North Alabama 0

The final matchup included the last two teams without a loss on the weekend, as North Alabama and South Alabama battled in softball for the first time in history. The Jags came out on top with a 5-0 win.

Despite the loss, UNA tallied five hits and left six runners on base to give itself multiple opportunities to score. This marked UNA's first shutout loss since April of last year.

South Alabama (11-5) scored one run in each of the first five innings, as the Lions were able to strand seven base runners in those innings to limit the damage. Alivia Wilken and Katie Simon pitched the first five innings, while sophomore Kaylee Snyder closed for UNA with a scoreless sixth.

Senior Jorja Roberson started in the DP spot and went 2-for-3 to lead the offense.
 

Pitchers of Record
W – Ryley Harrison (6-2)
L – Alivia Wilken (3-3)
S – None
 

COMING UP NEXT

The Lions open a five-game home stand on Saturday, Feb. 28 with a three-game set against Evansville. First pitch is set for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Tickets are on sale at this link or by calling 256-765-5466 (LION).