CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (April 11, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team held on to take the series against Austin Peay in cardiac fashion, 13-12, at Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park on Saturday. 

This is the Lions' first road series win this season and gives North Alabama sole possession of first place in Atlantic Sun Conference Gold Division. Bellarmine is second place at 8-6 in conference play. 

North Alabama (16-18, 9-5 ASUN) mashed five home runs in this game, replacing the former season-high of four against Murray State on Feb. 18. This set the most home runs hit in a game by the Lions in Division I history. The previous record was four, accomplished several times. 

Dylan Coleman, Nash Rippen, Will Millard, Wes Walker and Justin Santoyo each secured a home run in the contest. The 48 home runs this season lead the ASUN and is five more than Bellarmine with 43; last season, UNA had 38 total home runs for the season.

Five Lions now have five or more home runs this season with Coleman as the clubhouse leader at 11; Rippen is second with nine. 

Santoyo opened the scoring with his solo shot in the second inning before Rippen and Millard did the same in back-to-back at-bats in the third inning for the 3-2 lead. This was Rippen's first home run in 10 games dating back to the second game of the Eastern Kentucky series.

UNA had 16 hits in game two — the most in a single game this season. The 43 at-bats tied the second game of the Central Arkansas series, while the 13 RBIs were the second-most for a game. 

Austin Peay (16-19, 7-7 ASUN) made a late run in the bottom of the ninth to pull within a score. Luke Davenport filled in for the final two batters as the final out flew out to left field. Rippen crashed into the wall and held onto the catch for the final out. 

Every batter had a hit in the afternoon game — five with two or more hits. All but two Lions crossed the plate for a score with Walker earning the most at three. All but one batter secured an RBI as well with Coleman leading the squad with three. 

Millard and Walker each had three hits, two RBIs and a home run to lead the team. Millard added two runs and a walk, while Walker had two doubles. This tied Petey Craska, Tyler LePage and Rippen for most doubles by a Lion in a game. 

Rippen has reached base safely in 31 straight-games, extending the streak with his first inning single. His streak ties the great Luke Harper who reached safely 31 consecutive games in 2022. 

Four pitchers found the bump to get the gritty win with Tripp Patterson leading the team on Saturday for five innings and four strikeouts giving him his third win of the year. 

Justin Battle was the first arm out of the pen with two innings of work. The senior allowed two hits and one run but had an emphatic strikeout with the bases loaded in two run ball game to finalize the seventh. 

Kelly Crumpton serviced the hill for 1.2 innings with two strikeouts before Luke Davenport closed the final out to earn his first save of the season. 

Pitchers of Record
W – Tripp Patterson (3-3)
L – Bryce McCain (1-2)
S – Luke Davenport (1)
 

COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama will look to sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Clarksville. 
 

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.