Rippen11th
Taylor Clemons
2
Lipscomb LIP 16-18-0, 9-8-0 ASUN
6
Winner North Alabama UNA 19-19-0, 11-6-0 ASUN
Lipscomb LIP
16-18-0, 9-8-0 ASUN
2
Final
6
North Alabama UNA
19-19-0, 11-6-0 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lipscomb LIP 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 9 1
North Alabama UNA 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 X 6 6 2

W: Patterson, Tripp (4-3) L: Martin Jr., Jevarra (1-2) S: Davenport, Luke (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Rippen leads Baseball to even series against Lipscomb, 6-2

Senior left fielder went 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and home run

FLORENCE, Ala. (April 18, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team evened a three-game series with Lipscomb on Saturday with a 6-2 win at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium. 

North Alabama (19-19, 11-6 ASUN) gets back on track behind Nash Rippen's perfect day as he batted 1.000 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a double, a walk and his 11th home run of the season. 

Lipscomb (16-19, 9-8 ASUN) held the Lions to .207 at the batter's box through the game. However, the Bisons pitching crew hit two batters and allowed passed balls to help score four runs in the bottom of the fourth for UNA. 

North Alabama knocked only six hits for the day but four of those were extra base hits. Rippen secured the double and home run while both Bryant Loving and Will Millard each snagged a double.

This is the sixth game with three or less strikeouts for UNA at the plate, which moves them to 4-2 in such instances. 

The top two defenses in the Atlantic Sun created a similar atmosphere to Friday night, which led to a pitcher's duel for most of the game. 

Tripp Patterson spent 6.2 innings on the mound allowing one earned run with two strikeouts, his fourth quality start of the year. The sophomore threw 109 pitches en route to his fourth win of the season.

After Patterson, it was the dynamic closer in Luke Davenport who finished the final 2.1 innings. He struck out four in his time and gave up one hit without any runs to score — this earned him his second save of the season. 

The Lions' defense moved some pieces around as Swiss-army knife Wes Walker moved from right field to first base for his first start there this season. Cayden Sheffield earned his second start this week in right field — the redshirt freshman scored a run and knocked a hard single. 

Thanks to Rippen's first inning blast, the Lions total 55 home runs on the year which leads the Atlantic Sun Conference. North Alabama is one shy of tying the Division I record of 56 home runs set in 2024.

Rippen moved to 35 straight games where he reached base safely. 
 

Pitchers of Record
W – Tripp Patterson (4-3)
L – Jevarra Martin Jr. (1-2)
S – Luke Davenport  (2)
 

COMING UP NEXT

North Alabama will look to win the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. 
 

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

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