RICHMOND, Ky. (April 25, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team took the series win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, 11-8, at Earle Combs Stadium in Richmond, Ky.
This is the Lions' sixth series win of the season and their fourth during conference play; the team has won both series against EKU this season. Before 2025, the Lions had not won a series over EKU during the Division I era. Between 2025 and 2026, all four have been won by UNA.
UNA is now 5-0 against EKU this season.
North Alabama (22-20, 13-7 ASUN) had three home runs today from Nash Rippen, Wes Walker and Cayden Sheffield. The home run total now climbs to 62 on the season, which is now one shy of the all-time record in a single season of 63 set in 1999. The 63 home runs took 57 games to complete during that season, the Lions currently sit at 42 games this season.
This was UNA's fourth win when trailing after the sixth inning — the other three coming against Saint Louis, the walk-off win against Eastern Kentucky on March 20 and last night's win, 10-6.
Eastern Kentucky (10-33, 4-16 ASUN) absorbed a six-run deficit in the first inning to then take the lead in the sixth inning, 8-7. After a tough showing against left-handed Gavin Oswald on Friday, EKU returned with eight hits against left-handed starting pitcher Tripp Patterson today.
North Alabama has its 20th game with 10 or more hits this season, which escalates them to a 15-5 record in such instances this season. The Lions move to a 15-3 record when the team hits two or more home runs in a game.
Batters hit .343 for 12 total hits as four hits came with two outs — a strength for UNA this season. The Lions had a perfect 3-for-3 day with runners on third and less than two outs.
Rippen hit his 14th home run of the season, which surpassed Josh Willingham's 13 in 2000. This ties him with current teammate Dylan Coleman for the most on the roster — both now are three away from tying the all-time record set by Mike Burns in 1989 and D.J. Harris in 1993 with 17.
Walker hit another home run for his ninth of the season. This is second time having back-to-back games with a home run this season, which was accomplished against Eastern Kentucky in the first series meeting on Saturday and Sunday.
Sheffield did not have a home run ahead of this week; he now has his second with his three RBI shot in the first inning. The three RBIs led the team and was one of three multi-RBI games.
The home runs will steal the show, but Jackson Westmoreland turned in his second four-hit afternoon of the past week. The middle infielder had not accomplished said feat before in his career, but now has one against Tennessee Tech and one today. His lead-off role saw him spray the four hits around the diamond for a run and another driven in for a score.
Dylan Coleman had a solid outing with a hit, two runs and an RBI. Justin Santoyo had two hits with two runs and another score driven in on Saturday.
Tyler LePage filled in for the middle infield as he secured a hit and an RBI.
Patterson worked 5.0 innings with three strikeouts with 97 pitches thrown.
Murfreesboro native Justin Battle threw a strikeout and allowed one hit in his 1.2 innings thrown for the win.
Luke Davenport cleaned up the final 2.1 which allowed no hits, no runs and struck out three Colonels. The right-handed sophomore secured his third save of the year to lead the Lions in the metric.
Pitchers of Record
W – Justin Battle (2-0)
L – Cade Schneider (1-2)
S – Luke Davenport (3)
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama will look to sweep the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT at Earle Combs Stadium.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
