COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 22, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team won its second consecutive midweek game on Wednesday with a 10-7 win over Tennessee Tech at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium in Cookeville, Tenn.
This is UNA's third win against Tennessee Tech during the Division I era — all three in Cookeville.
North Alabama (20-20, 11-7 ASUN) had 17 hits tonight with six Lions having a multi-hit game in the midweek. The lead-off man, Jackson Westmoreland, was masterful with four hits, three RBIs and two runs to push UNA to its third midweek win.
UNA hit two home runs today thanks to Cayden Sheffield and Nash Rippen; both were solo shots. Rippen hit his 12th home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning. That home run became the 57th of the year for North Alabama, which broke the single season Division I record for home runs in a season. UNA last set this record in 2024 with 56.
Tennessee Tech (14-28, 3-12 OVC) nearly stifled the North Alabama offense with Braxton Lewis on the bump. Lewis threw 4.1 innings, allowed five hits and one run while he struck out three batters.
However, the Lions racked up 12 hits on four other pitchers. Besides Lewis and closer Micah Summar, UNA scored at least two runs on every pitcher for the Golden Eagles.
This is North Alabama's third midweek win of the season — two came in mercy rule fashion against Murray State and UT Martin. This marks consecutive midweek wins after UNA secured the 21-3 win over UTM last Tuesday.
Seventeen total hits found their way onto the diamond for UNA today; this fell one shy for the most in a single game this season which was set last week at UT Martin with 18. The .405 batting average tied for the third-best batting average game this season.
Twelve of the 17 hits came with two outs on the scoreboard; all five runs in the second inning came with two outs. UNA had a .476 average with runners on the base path and delivered even more with a .538 average with runners in scoring position.
The two home runs now give North Alabama a 13-3 record when hitting two or more homers in a game. The team moved to a perfect 8-0 when 10 or more runs cross the plate in a game.
Before Rippen's home run came the two walks and a single that continued his reached base streak, which climbed to 37 straight.
Behind Westmoreland, Leighton Jenkins and Dylan Coleman had three-hit nights. Jenkins continued his strong play with a double and run while Coleman had two RBIs, a double and a run.
Cayden Sheffield, Will Millard and Rippen secured the final three multi-hit games with two each.
Sheffield, who filled in at centerfield, opened the scoreboard with his solo shot in the top of the second — his first home run of the season. The redshirt freshman logged two RBIs and two runs scored in Cookeville.
Millard did it all tonight, as he started in right field before swapping to catcher late in the contest. Offensively, he earned an RBI and run but made a notable play where he beat out a throw to help score one in the top of the seventh.
Six pitchers performed on the hill in Cookeville as redshirt freshman Jordan Touhey received his first start of the season. The right-handed pitcher went three innings and threw three strikeouts with only two hits and a run.
Jake Boynar collected his first win of the season as he allowed only one hit and punched out four batters. Carlos Carmona made his first appearance since the March 1 game against Southern Indiana.
Josh Bowerman and Landon Scruggs each worked 1.1 innings and added two strikeouts. The sophomore left-hander Reese Young closed the final inning unscathed to earn his first save of the season.
Pitchers of Record
W – Jake Boynar (1-3)
L – Ty Barnett (0-3)
S – Reese Young (1)
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama continues the road journey with Eastern Kentucky on Friday, April 24 at 5 p.m. at Earl Combs Stadium.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
