RICHMOND, Ky. (April 12, 2026) – The University of North Alabama softball team took Eastern Kentucky to extra innings on Sunday, but were unable to salvage a three-game series following a 6-5 loss to the Colonels in nine innings in Richmond, Ky.
For the first time this season, UNA is no longer leading the Atlantic Sun Conference Gold Division standings. The Lions dip to 28-11 overall and 10-5 in league play, which is a half-game back of EKU and Central Arkansas with a 10-4 record. EKU and UCA have played one less game due to a weather cancellation in Conway.
EKU improves to 21-19 overall and 14-5 in home games.
Despite the loss, UNA battled with seven hits and were gifted five errors from the Colonels. However, the Lions stranded 12 runners on base. EKU had a similar day with 10 hits and 11 runners left, but like their counterpart, the Lions tight-roped out of multiple threats.
The seven hits came from seven different players, including doubles from Holly Merritt and Emma Kate Wright. Senior Laura Leigh Wheeler also had an RBI hit, giving her 12 hits over the last seven games to extend a seven-game hit streak.
Pitching was a combined effort between senior twins Emily Simon and Katie Simon and fifth-year ace Alivia Wilken. Emily got her second start of the season after missing 40 games with an injury. She pitched 3.1 innings with one earned run allowed. Wilken took the middle with 1.2 innings and just two earned runs allowed on three hits, while Katie took the final 3.0 innings all the way into extras. She allowed just one run on two hits and suffered just her fourth loss this season.
EKU opened the scoring in the first with a double steal with runners on the corners, allowing Reese Knox to score. Wright scored Merritt after both hit doubles to tie the game in the second. The Colonels grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth behind two unearned runs, then the Lions answered with Wheeler's RBI hit.
Down 5-2 in the sixth, UNA strung together three more runs. The rally started with a leadoff homer from true freshman Karley Moreland. Later in the frame, UNA loaded the bases and got RBI walks from Briley Dover and Bayleigh Rouse.
The score remained tied after the seventh, as UNA went to extra innings for the first time since a walk-off win against Central Arkansas on March 14. UNA is now 1-2 in extra inning games with the other loss coming to Ole Miss at home on March 10.
EKU shortstop Jordan Smith, who had three errors in the field, atoned for those miscues with a walk-off solo homer to begin the ninth inning. This spoiled a shutout appearance from Simon, who just completed her third inning of work.
Pitchers of Record
W – Bayle Hunnicutt (7-6)
L – Katie Simon (10-4)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions have 10 regular season games remaining, including the final non-conference midweek game of the season at Ole Miss. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 in Oxford, Miss.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
