FLORENCE, Ala. (May 6, 2026) – The No. 3 seeded University of North Alabama softball team opened play at the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on Wednesday in Jacksonville, Fla., falling in the first game before surviving the second game to advance in the loser's bracket.
The Lions will play another elimination game at 4 p.m. CT. The opponent will be determined tomorrow in the two games before UNA. The lower seed of the losers in those two games will play UNA in hopes of advancing to Friday.
The day started with a 4-1 loss to No. 7 seed North Florida in the first game, as North Florida is the tournament host and defending champion. However, the Lions responded in a major way with a 10-2 win over No. 5 FGCU in six innings.
Game 1: North Florida 4, North Alabama 1
North Florida utilized its home field advantage as tournament host in UNA's opener, bringing four runs back into the third base dugout to take a 4-0 lead after two innings.
The Lions got one back with a solo home run by Bayleigh Rouse to lead off the fifth inning. Senior Laura Leigh Wheeler drew a walk in the sixth to give UNA another threat, but UNF was able to hold on for the win behind a complete game from pitcher Taylor Cook.
Senior catcher Natalie Shaw led the Lions with two hits in two plate appearances. She hit a single to right-center in the third inning and a double to left-center in the fifth. Shaw also threw out a runner trying to steal to end the sixth.
Fellow senior Gyvan Hammons had the other hit for UNA with a leadoff single in the first inning. Hammons also stole second base to add another to her Division I record tally with 20. She set the record over the weekend against Bellarmine, last set in 2022 by Lexi Harper.
Senior pitchers Alivia Wilken and Katie Simon split up duties with Wilken getting the start and going 3.2 innings. Simon pitched 3.1 shutout innings in relief with just three hits allowed to finish out the game.
Pitchers of Record
W – Taylor Cook (9-5)
L – Alivia Wilken (13-6)
S – None
Game 2: North Alabama X, FGCU X
After finishing game one, Simon took the circle again for game two and tossed a complete game victory. It ended with a five-run inning in the sixth to make it a 10-2 win for the Lions. Simon gave up just two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
UNA struck first with a scoreless frame in the top half and a two-run homer by junior Briley Dover. Hammons drew a four-pitch walk to lead things off, then Dover put one over the scoreboard in left-center.
The Eagles struck for a pair to tie it up in the second, using an RBI double by all-conference outfielder Olivia Black. However, she was thrown out by Hammons and tagged out by Rouse.
This was not the last time Rouse affected the game.
In the fourth inning, senior Laura Leigh Wheeler drew a four-pitch walk to start it exactly like the first inning. Rouse came through the same way Dover did, swinging at the first pitch and clearing the right-center wall for a go-ahead homer. The Lions added insurance in the same frame as junior Emma Kate Wright singled and scored on a sac fly by Shaw.
With a 5-2 lead, Simon shut down the Eagle bats and did not allow another runner past second base. UNA proceeded to score five runs in the seventh inning to invoke the mercy rule.
It started with a single by true freshman Karley Moreland to bring home Emma Kate Wright. Later with the bases loaded, Dover hit a two-RBI single to score Moreland and freshman pinch runner Claire Wright. This advanced Hammons to third, who stole home on a rundown for her 21st of the season. The game ended with an RBI single by Wheeler to score Dover.
Dover led the way with four RBI while she and EK Wright recorded two hits. Rouse drove in two with her homer and joined sophomore Jenna Madison, Wheeler, Moreland and Shaw with a hit. Shaw led with three hits on the day in just four official at bats.
Pitchers of Record
W – Katie Simon (12-4)
L – Grace Taylor (9-11)
S – None
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
