RICHMOND, Ky. (April 24, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team opened its Eastern Kentucky series with a 10-6 win on Friday night at Earle Combs Stadium in Richmond, Ky.
Graduate left-handed pitcher Gavin Oswald won his sixth game of the season — all out of the bullpen. He now owns the most wins in a single season in UNA's Division I history that began in 2019. He surpassed teammate Tripp Patterson who had five in 2025 and former pitcher-turned current pitching coach, Jacob James, who had five in 2024.
North Alabama (21-20, 12-7 ASUN) owns a winning record through 41 games for the first time during the Division I era. This comes from the late rally that saw five runs cross home plate in the final three innings.
This was UNA's third win when trailing after the sixth inning — the other two coming against Saint Louis and the walk-off win against Eastern Kentucky on March 20.
Eastern Kentucky (10-32, 4-15 ASUN) jumped on North Alabama after recording six runs on starting pitcher Justus Agosto. However, a Wes Walker shot to centerfield dropped out of the glove of an EKU defenseman to give the Lions a two-run lead in the eighth.
North Alabama has its 19th game with 10 or more hits this season, which escalates them to a 14-5 record in such instances this season. The Lions move to 14-3 if the team hits two or more home runs in a game.
Nash Rippen hit his 13th home run of the season, which tied Josh Willingham's 13 home runs in 2000. He currently trails his teammate Dylan Coleman (14) for the most on the roster. Walker hit his own home run tonight, which designates him as the third-best on the team with eight.
UNA's home runs total levels to 59 on the season. The 2026 team is four home runs away from tying the all-time record of 63 set in 1999 through 57 games.
The ball found first baseman Petey Craska all night, as he tied the Division I record for being hit by a pitch in a game with three.
Redshirt freshman Cayden Sheffield had three hits and added two RBIs to lead the Lions from the plate. Rippen and Walker were next up as they both had two hits, two runs, two RBIs and a home run.
North Alabama hit .263 when squared up against Colonel left-handed pitchers. EKU had just one hit against the lone left-hander for North Alabama in Oswald. En route to his sixth win, he went 5.1 innings allowed one hit and sat down five Colonel batters in that span.
Pitchers of Record
W – Gavin Oswald (6-2)
L – Gavin Faulkner (2-4)
S – N/A
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama will look to win the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT at Earle Combs Stadium.
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