CONWAY, Ark. (April 26, 2026) – The race for supremacy in the Atlantic Sun Conference Gold Division took an interesting turn on Sunday.

After falling by one run in each of the first two games against Central Arkansas, the University of North Alabama softball team got one back in a massive way, forcing extra innings and winning 7-3 to salvage the series Sunday in Conway, Ark.

The Lions (32-14, 14-7 ASUN) did not hold a lead until the sixth inning, rallying for two runs to take a 3-2 lead. Later, the game was tied 3-3 and went to extras. Neither team broke through in the eighth inning, but the Lions were able to rally for four runs in the ninth.

The ninth-inning rally started with a leadoff single by junior Bayleigh Rouse, followed by a sac bunt from sophomore Jenna Madison to move her over. This brought up senior catcher Natalie Shaw, who ripped a double off the left field wall to drive in Rouse for the go-ahead run.

Senior Gyvan Hammons followed with an RBI single that scored pinch runner Katie Davis, who entered for Shaw. Then stepped junior Briley Dover, who sent over a two-run shot for added insurance.

In the bottom half, Central Arkansas (31-18-1, 13-6-1 ASUN) mustered a two-out single, but were denied by senior pitcher Rylee Tittle immediately after. Tittle entered in relief for Alivia Wilken in the third, as her team trailed 2-0. She allowed just one run in the sixth but was brilliant otherwise with eight hits scattered and goose eggs in the other frames.

Tittle faced 31 batters, and UCA stranded 12 runners on base. Her 7.0 innings matched a season-high, which she last set against Lipscomb with a complete game victory. Today's game was similar to that Lipscomb start, where she allowed just one run on seven hits.

Both teams had 11 hits, as the Lions were once again led by the top three in the order. Hammons had another three-hit day from the leadoff spot and finished 7-for-12 in the series. She scored two runs today and four for the weekend. Dover and senior Laura Leigh Wheeler both had two hits on Sunday and five for the weekend.

The other hits for UNA came from Shaw, Madison, Rouse and junior Emma Kate Wright. Wright also had a sacrifice fly that scored UNA's first run in the fourth inning. This made it 2-1 at the time, as UCA used a two-RBI single from Renee Christian to take the lead.

In the sixth, Wheeler tied the game by driving in Hammons with an RBI single. Hammons reached on an infield single, then moved over on a sac bunt by Dover that resulted in a throwing error by UCA. Dover, reaching on the error, scored on a hit by Wright, but UCA escaped any further damage with a tag out at second and a throw down to home to get Wheeler trying to sneak a run.

UCA tied it back up in the sixth with a sac fly, setting up the thrilling finish in the ninth.

Today marked UNA's fourth extra-inning game of the season — two against Central Arkansas, one against EKU and one against Ole Miss. UNA is 2-2 in those games with both wins coming against the Bears.

As for the ASUN Gold Division standings, UNA has the most wins, but trails by a slight margin in win percentage. UCA and EKU are tied at 13-6-1 for a 67.5 win percentage, which slightly leads UNA at 14-7 for a 66.7 win percentage. The difference in games comes from a weather cancellation between EKU and UCA earlier this season in Conway, while the tie comes from a drop-dead game between the two that ended in a tie in Richmond, Ky.

All three teams, along with Austin Peay, have already clinched the four spots in the 2026 ASUN Championship set for May 5-9 in Jacksonville, Fla. The other four teams are also set in the opposite division — Stetson, Jacksonville, FGCU and North Florida.

Next weekend, UNA will host Bellarmine, Central Arkansas will host Lipscomb and Austin Peay will host EKU. UNA is still alive a division title but will need to assistance from Austin Peay and Lipscomb.
 

Pitchers of Record
W – Rylee Tittle (4-2)
L – Emory Bowlin (7-6)
S – None

COMING UP NEXT

UNA welcomes Bellarmine to Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2 for a three-game series. This will be senior weekend for nine players, including Katie Davis, Katie Simon, Natalie Shaw, Emily Simon, Jorja Roberson, Rylee Tittle, Laura Leigh Wheeler, Alivia Wilken and Gyvan Hammons.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.