RICHMOND, Ky. (April 26, 2026) — The University of North Alabama baseball team swept the series over Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, 15-3, at Earle Combs Stadium in Richmond, Ky.
Senior left fielder Nash Rippen hit two home runs in the final game of the series against EKU. His second inning home run tied UNA's all-time single-season record of 63 which was set in 1999 through 57 games. In the third inning, he hit the first grand slam of the season for North Alabama and notched the historical 64th home run of the season.
Rippen now owns the Division I single-season home run record with his 16th of the season. Running mate Dylan Coleman hit his 15th of the season to tie the former Division I record of home runs in a season set by Gehrig Frei in 2024.
This is the Lions' fourth series win of the season and their third during conference play; the team has swept both series against EKU this season. Prior to this season, the Lions had seven total conference series sweeps during the Division I era.
UNA is now 6-0 against EKU this season.
Also, this is the fifth run rule win for the Lions this season.
North Alabama (23-20, 14-7 ASUN) created history with the five home runs today — split between Rippen, Coleman and Wes Walker. Rippen is now one shy of a tie for the all-time record of 17 set by Mike Burns in 1989 and D.J. Harris in 1993. Walker leveled up to 11 on the year to become the third member of the team to have double-digit home runs on the year.
UNA has three players with double-digit home runs in season for the first time in school history between Rippen, Coleman and Walker.
This is the first game this season where two Lions had two home runs in the same game.
Eastern Kentucky (10-34, 4-17 ASUN) used nine pitchers for the game as five gave up two or more hits during their time on the mound. The nine pitchers allowed 15 runs and five home runs to North Alabama.
This is the fifth time this season that North Alabama has scored 15 or more runs and the sixth time the team has recorded 15 or more hits in a game.
This is the second game with five or more home runs, last done against Austin Peay in the series win on April 11. It tied the most home runs hit in a game by the Lions in Division I history.
North Alabama has its 21st game with 10 or more hits this season, which escalates them to a 16-5 record in such instances this season. The Lions move to a 16-3 record when the team hits two or more home runs in a game.
UNA posted an overall hitting day of .417, but the Lions got better in more dire situations. Batters hit .462 with two outs and hit .421 with runners on base, including a perfect 2-for-2 with the bases loaded.
The top seven batters for UNA had at least one hit on the day — six starters scored two or more runs in the Sunday showing.
Walker led the attack with four hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. Jackson Westmoreland continued his stellar play from the leadoff spot with three hits, three runs scored and one RBI. Coleman, Rippen and Santoyo each had two hits today.
Tyle LePage started his first game at second base with Westmoreland opposite of him at shortstop.
Reese Young earned his third win of the season with four innings of work, four strikeouts and one earned run. Tyler Rice and Kelly Crumpton combined to finish the final three innings of the mercy rule win as they allowed just two hits during that span.
Pitchers of Record
W – Reese Young (3-0)
L – Hayden Collins (0-3)
S – N/A
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama gets Bellarmine for a home series next weekend beginning on Friday, May 1 at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
