FLORENCE, Ala. (February 27, 2026) – For the first time this season, the University of North Alabama softball team will take the home diamond for a home series at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium when the Lions welcome Evansville this Saturday and Sunday.
The Lions enter their home opener with a 10-4 record following successful tournaments at Troy, Samford and South Alabama. The Lions left with a 4-1 record at both the Trojan Classic and South Alabama Invitational, while all four teams left with a 2-2 record at the Samford Tournament in Birmingham.
The series begins Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader, followed by the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Fans that provide a valid ID are invited to a complimentary happy hour during the first doubleheader while supplies last. Following Saturday's doubleheader, children are invited to take the field and run the bases for as part of UNA's "Run for Ribeyes" promotion presented by George's Steak Pit.
All three games of the series — and most games this season — will be streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions"
Benjamin Ray and UNA Hall of Famer Ande Jones on the call. Fans can also follow live stats.
Tickets are available
at this link or by calling 256-765-5466.
SERIES INFO
Teams: North Alabama vs. Evansville
Dates: Feb. 28 – March 1 (Saturday-Sunday)
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium (Built in 2006; Named in 2019)
Promotions: Happy Hour; Run For Ribeyes (Saturday)
Game 1 —
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
Game 2 —
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
Game 3 —
ESPN+ |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
Game Notes
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: UNA went 4-1 at the South Alabama Invitational last weekend in Mobile, including two wins over Loyola Chicago, single wins over UT Martin and West Georgia and a loss to host school South Alabama. The Lions posted two shutout wins in the process, including three-hitters from
Katie Simon and
Alivia Wilken. Simon was named Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week with a 2-0 record and a 1.05 ERA in Mobile.
ASUN ALL-STARS: Simon is the second UNA player to win a weekly award from the ASUN this season. Last week, sophomore first baseman
Holly Merritt won ASUN Player of the Week. She went 8-for-15 to finish .533 at Samford's tournament with two home runs and two doubles.
STREAKING HITTERS: Merritt has a nine-game hitting streak entering the weekend, while senior
Gyvan Hammons has reached safely in the last nine games. Merritt leads the way with a .467 batting average, including 21 hits and eight multi-base hits. Junior
Briley Dover is batting .417 with 20 hits and has reached safely in 12 of her 14 games.
WALK IT OUT: Senior catcher
Natalie Shaw is off to one of the best starts of her career, batting an even .250 with a team-leading 13 walks and.514 on-base percentage. Her 13 walks rank her third in the ASUN and 12th in the nation.
CIRCLE THIS GROUP: UNA's pitching efforts have come from four players so far, including seniors
Katie Simon and
Alivia Wilken with roughly 30 innings apiece. Simon leads the way with a 5-0 record and a 2.57 ERA, while Wilken — the ASUN Co-Preseason Pitcher of the Year along with Katie's twin
Emily Simon —is 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA and two saves. Senior
Rylee Tittle and sophomore
Kaylee Snyder have also combined for two wins and 27.1 innings.
TWIN MAGIC: There are currently 17 teams in Division I softball this season with a set of sisters on the roster. However, North Alabama is the only school among those teams with two sets of sisters — both of whom are twins. The Simon twins enter their second seasons with UNA, while
Haley Westhoven and
Lindsey Westhoven are true freshmen. Lindsey is a catcher, while Haley joins the Simon twins as a pitcher.
HOME OPENERS: UNA has won five of the last six home openers dating back to 2020. Last year resulted in a 5-1 win over Memphis at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium.
SCOUTING THE ACES: Evansville enters with a 6-7 record following two wins at the UCA Tournament hosted by fellow ASUN member Central Arkansas. The Aces split with the Bears, defeated Saint Louis and fell to Southeastern Louisiana in the midst of SELA's nine-game win streak. Senior infielder Jess Willsey is batting .357, while sophomore Kate Ridgway leads the pitching staff with 35.0 innings and a 4.60 ERA. Bailey Dillender is in her first season at UE after leading University of the Cumberlands to national prominence at the NAIA level.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the second all-time meeting between UNA and Evansville. The first resulted in a 6-4 win for the Aces after a late rally in the final innings. This game happened almost exactly six years ago on Feb. 28, 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic. UNA finished 16-7 that season, while Evansville went 12-11.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
