FLORENCE, Ala. (March 1, 2026) – The University of North Alabama softball team completed a stellar three-game sweep of Evansville on Sunday, using a season-high 16 hits to win 14-7 in the series finale at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium.
The Lions (13-4) have won eight of the last night games. In addition to the hits, UNA set new season-highs with four doubles and eight walks. UNA only struck out one time at the plate, marking the fifth game this season with one strikeout or less. UNA did not strike out in yesterday's 8-0 win.
Trailing 9-0 at one point, Evansville (6-10) survived the mercy rule and had three runs in the fourth and fifth innings and one in the sixth. However, it was not enough and UNA led by at least six runs the remainder of the game.
Senior Gyvan Hammons went 4-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs to lead the offense from the top of the order. She also drove in a run with an RBI single in the fourth inning. This marked her first four-hit game as a Lion.
Eight more Lions joined Hammons in the hit column, including a pair of true freshmen with their first career hits. Karley Moreland and Anna Kate Potter — both local products from Brooks and Hatton High School, respectively — entered in the fourth inning and turned in memorable moments.
Both players went 2-for-2 and joined Hammons, sophomore Holly Merritt and junior Briley Dover with multi-hit games.
Moreland's first career at-bat ended with a solo home run to make it 10-3 in the fourth inning. While Moreland filled in at second base, Potter came in to play right field. Potter's first at-bat led off the fifth with a single. She also hit an RBI double in the sixth for UNA's final run. Moreland singled and walked in her last two plate appearances, reaching all three times.
Merritt had the most impactful hit of the day, turning a 2-0 lead into a 6-0 advantage with a two-out grand slam in the second inning. This came after UNA stranded the bases full in the first.
UNA's offense combined for seven multi-base hits, including a triple from junior Emma Kate Wright and doubles from Hammons, Potter, Dover and freshman Livy Huter. The three-four hitters, Bayleigh Rouse and Laura Leigh Wheeler, each had RBI hits. Wheeler went 1-for-1 with a walk, a single and a sacrifice fly before subbing out for Potter in right field.
In the circle, sophomore Kaylee Snyder made her first start of the season and picked up the win with 4.0 innings of work. She allowed just three runs on four hits and had two strikeouts. Pitching with a massive lead, senior Rylee Tittle came on for the final three innings and picked up the save — her first as a Lion.
For the series, UNA outhit Evansville by a wide margin — 33-17.
Pitchers of Record
W – Kaylee Snyder (2-1)
L – Kate Ridgway (2-3)
S – Rylee Tittle (1)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions are scheduled to play Detroit Mercy on Saturday, March 7 in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
