FLORENCE, Ala. (March 15, 2026) – The University of North Alabama softball team brought the tying run to the plate in hopes of keeping a three-game sweep of Central Arkansas alive, but the Bears stymied the rally to salvage the series with an 8-6 win over the Lions on Sunday in Florence.
In the first weekend of Atlantic Sun Conference play, UNA took two of three from one of the perennial contenders in the ASUN Gold Division. The Bears avoided the sweep with help from a three-run sixth inning.
The Lions (19-6, 2-1 ASUN) earn their first series win over UCA since 2024 and the first one at home in program history.
All three games of the series were competitive — as true rivalries seem to be. The Bears (19-10, 1-2 ASUN) scored first with an RBI double, but sophomore transfer Jenna Madison tied it in the bottom of the second with a bloop single to score senior Laura Leigh Wheeler. Madison made her second start of the season, moving from shortstop yesterday to left field today.
A three-run homer by Emma Robertson gave UCA a 4-1 lead in the third, but the Lions came back with three more in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back homers from junior Bayleigh Rouse and sophomore Holly Merritt. Merritt already has 10 homers this season, which ties the team high set by Rouse last season. Rouse currently has seven and is on pace to surpass her total from last year.
UCA's Renee Christian brought home go-ahead runs with RBI singles in the fourth and sixth to make it 6-4. Two more crossed that inning. Down 8-4 in the bottom of the seventh, UNA rallied with a lead-off double from senior catcher Natalie Shaw, then an RBI double from junior Briley Dover. Rouse scored Dover with a double in the next at-bat to make it 8-6.
However, the fun ended with Bailie Runner getting the final two outs to salvage the series.
UNA had more hits in the setback, totaling 10 on the day. This marks the ninth time this season the Lions have totaled 10 or more hits in a game, but only the second time in a loss.
Per usual, the hitting was a balanced effort with eight or more Lions tallying at least one hit. Wheeler and Rouse both had multi-hit games. Rouse extended her on-base streak to 21 games, while senior leadoff hitter Gyvan Hammons extended hers 20 games and 13 when unaided by a fielder's choice or error.
UNA remains atop the ASUN Gold Division standings after one weekend alongside EKU and Bellarmine with 2-1 records. EKU won the series over Austin Peay, while Bellarmine took two from Lipscomb. All three 2-1 teams were at home this weekend.
Pitchers of Record
W – Bailie Runner (8-3)
L – Kaylee Snyder (4-2)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will hit the road for the first time since February with a three-game series at Austin Peay this coming weekend. The series begins Saturday, March 21 with a doubleheader and ends that Sunday at 1 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
