FLORENCE, Ala. (April 19, 2026) – The rest of the Atlantic Sun Conference has been put on notice.
The University of North Alabama softball team completed a three-game sweep of Austin Peay on Sunday in mercy rule fashion, winning 9-1 in five innings at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium. Following two wins yesterday and one today, UNA became the first team to sweep Austin Peay in over two years.
With this weekend's results, UNA has officially clinched a spot in the 2026 ASUN Tournament set for May 5-9 hosted by North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Lions improve to 31-12 overall and 13-5 in league play to regain the lead in the ASUN Gold Division standings. The Govs fall to 26-21 and remain in fourth place with an 8-10 league record.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning, but UNA took control the rest of the way. Three more crossed in the third and fourth innings to make it 4-1, then the Lions rallied for five runs in the fifth inning to invoke the mercy rule.
Senior catcher Natalie Shaw had the walk-off single to end it, hitting a 1-2 pitch through the right side to score Jenna Madison and Hailey Minchew. As Minchew slid home safely and Shaw touched first, the UNA dugout mobbed both players in celebration of the sweep.
Today marks the second career walk-off hit for Shaw. Her first one came last season in a tournament at Chattanooga against Lindenwood, where she also hit a two-RBI single to force a mercy rule.
UNA's offense collected 10 hits, marking the 13th time this season in double digit totals.
Sophomore Holly Merritt was the most dangerous hitter this weekend for UNA, going 3-for-3 in the game on Sunday. She had a double and two singles, scored two runs and drove in two runs. For the weekend, Merritt finished 6-for-8 with a double, two homers, five runs and four RBI.
Junior Briley Dover enjoyed a two-hit day with a double and a run scored. Five other Lions recorded a hit, while the only two without a hit — Laura Leigh Wheeler and Minchew — each recorded at least one RBI via sac fly or RBI groundout.
In the circle, senior Rylee Tittle pitched 3.0 innings in the start and allowed just one run on three hits. After one runner reached in the fourth in a 2-1 game, fifth-year senior Alivia Wilken took over for the final two innings. She allowed one hit, but nothing else. With the shortened game, this turned into a win for Tittle and a save for Wilken — the third win and save for each.
Pitchers of Record
W – Rylee Tittle (3-2)
L – Alanah Jones (14-10)
S – Alivia Wilken (3)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions have two series remaining in the regular season, starting with the final road series this upcoming weekend at Central Arkansas. The Bears are 11-5-1 in ASUN play to sit in a tie for second with EKU after a split and a tie this weekend with the Colonels. Both are now two games back of first place North Alabama.
The Lions and Bears play two on Saturday, April 25 and one on Sunday, April 26. Both days start at 1 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
