FLORENCE, Ala. (April 3, 2026) – The University of North Alabama softball team won its fifth-straight game and have won seven-straight in Atlantic Sun Conference play with a pair of wins over Lipscomb to open a three-game series Saturday in Florence, Ala.
The Lions are now in sole possession of first place in the ASUN Gold Division standings with a 26-8 overall record and a 9-2 record in league play. With the wins today, UNA has clinched a series win against all four ASUN opponents thus far.
Lipscomb drops to 9-27 overall and slips to 2-9 in the league standings.
The first game was heavier on the offensive side, as the Lions piled up eight runs in the first four innings to secure the series opener with an 8-3 victory. The second game was highlighted by a complete-game shutout from Katie Simon in the circle, as the Lions won 3-0 to take the series.
In the sixth inning, Simon recorded her 100th career strikeout as a Lion.
Offensively, senior outfielder Laura Leigh Wheeler went 5-for-6 with three hits in the opener and two in the nightcap. She had a double, a run scored and two RBI. Seven other Lions recorded at least one hit, including home runs from junior Bayleigh Rouse and freshman Karley Moreland.
UNA will hunt its second straight series sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Game 1: North Alabama 8, Lipscomb 3
UNA took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and never trailed after that, cruising to an 8-1 lead after the fourth inning. Fifth-year senior Alivia Wilken posted a quality start and improved to 11-4 with a complete game victory.
Wilken allowed three runs — just two earned — with no walks and three strikeouts. She threw 97 pitches. Her ERA dropped to 2.68 after the complete game victory. The former Buckhorn standout has won five of her last six appearances with three complete games in that span.
The scoring began in the second inning with a bloop to first base by junior Emma Kate Wright that dropped in front of first base and rolled near the dugout to score Wheeler and Moreland. The play came with two outs, as Moreland was running no matter what and got all the way home.
Lipscomb notched one in the third to cut the lead in half, but a sacrifice fly by sophomore Holly Merritt and an RBI single by Wheeler made it 4-1. UNA really busted things open in the fourth with a four-run inning with three hits and three free passes. Junior Briley Dover drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by RBI hits from Rouse, Merritt and Wheeler in the 3-4-5 spots.
Lipscomb kept the game alive with a two-RBI single from Presley Rader, but Wilken retired the final seven in order for the win. While Wheeler led with three hits, senior leadoff hitter Gyvan Hammons joined her with a two-hit day. She scored both times she reached. Hammons also made an acrobatic catch in the first inning to set the tone, bobbling a difficult catch in full-stride before coming up with it on second effort.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (11-4)
L – Brooke Beam (3-10)
S – None
Game 2: North Alabama 3, Lipscomb 0
Both teams matched their hit totals from game one, as UNA collected eight in both games and Lipscomb seven. However, the runs were more of a premium in game two.
All three runs for UNA came off home runs, including a two-run blast from Rouse in the opening frame to score Hammons. The early 2-0 lead stayed pat until the fourth, as Moreland skied one over the centerfield wall to make it 3-0.
Both teams left six runs on base.
Simon was nearly untouchable once runners got on, scattering seven hits with only a couple of threats. She did not walk anyone and struck out a pair in the final two innings. She accomplished this on just 89 pitches.
Lipscomb's only true threat was in the first inning, as three singles loaded the bases. A groundout to shortstop collected by Dover ended the inning. Dover was extremely busy in the field with five assists and three putouts. Her main highlight was a diving catch that turned into a 6-3 double play.
Another Lipscomb runner reached third base with two outs in the third inning, but a flyout ended any hopes of a run. No other runner got past first base the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, UNA had seven players record a hit with two from Wheeler and one from Hammons, Rouse, Moreland, Merritt, Wright and senior Natalie Shaw.
Pitchers of Record
W – Katie Simon (10-2)
L – Jesyne Espinal (1-2)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will go for the sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Florence native and celebrity TV star Rob Rausch will throw out the first pitch at Saturday's finale. Rausch, who attended UNA, is an American snake wrangler and is known for winning season four of The Traitors.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
