FLORENCE, Ala. (May 7, 2026) – The 2026 season was a battle to the finish.
In a game that came down to the very last play, the University of North Alabama softball team suffered a heartbreaking elimination in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on Thursday, falling 1-0 to tournament host North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.
After falling behind in the top of the first on a solo homer, the Lions stayed within a run behind tremendous pitching from senior Katie Simon. The senior willed her team to victory with just one run allowed on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. She threw 124 pitches in the game and 255 for the tournament.
For her effort, Simon was voted to the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
Meanwhile, the Lions began to string together an offensive rally in the seventh, getting a leadoff single from sophomore Holly Merritt. Senior Katie Davis came in to run for her and made it to second on a bunt by junior Bayleigh Rouse. This brought up sophomore Jenna Madison with two outs.
Madison ripped a single to left-centerfield, prompting head coach Ashley Cozart to send Davis around third — the right call. Unfortunately, the throw from Kalyn McCarthy was on target and allowed catcher Addyson Bruneman to apply the tag right before Davis could touch the plate. This sparked emotion on both sides, as the Lions mourned the end of a tremendous season.
The Lions finish one of the greatest seasons in school history with a 36-16 record, which ranks as the sixth-highest win percentage in school history at 69.2 percent. This dates back to the program's start in 1983. This also ranks as the fifth-best season in the fast pitch era of softball, which began in 1986.
Outside of the 2020 season that was shortened by COVID-19, the 16 losses are the fewest in a season since 2018 — the final year of the Division II era where the Lions went 46-6 and won the Gulf South Conference Championship.
Two individuals broke Division I school records this season, as senior Gyvan Hammons stole 21 bases on 22 attempts to break Lexi Harper's record from 2022. Junior Briley Dover finished with 55 runs to set the DI record last held by Harley Stokes in 2022.
Nine seniors ended their college career on Thursday, including Hammons who had a hit on Thursday. She and fellow senior outfielder Laura Leigh Wheeler both hit over .300 this season, as Wheeler earned third team all-conference honors back-to-back seasons. Davis and fellow senior Jorja Roberson were key reserves for the Lions as primary running and hitting options.
Senior catcher Natalie Shaw started 47 games behind the dish and had three hits in the tournament. She finished a career season with the second-highest on-base percentage on the team at .454. This was thanks in part to a team-high 30 walks, which ranks fourth in program history and second in the Division I era for a season.
Four UNA pitchers graduate from the program, including Simon who was voted to the all-tournament team after throwing 16.1 innings over three games. She finished with a 12-5 record and a 2.76 ERA, pitching 114.0 innings and eight complete games in 18 starts. Simon was a third team all-conference selection this season. Her twin sister, Emily Simon, overcame an injury at the end of the year to finish with 15.2 innings and a 1.79 ERA. She was the Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year.
Fifth-year senior Alivia Wilken ended a stellar career with three seasons at UNA. She earned first team all-conference and was the Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year with Simon. Wilken also turned in a stellar season with a 2.90 ERA over 118.1 innings. She had a 13-6 record with 10 complete games.
The other senior is a local product from Deshler High School — Rylee Tittle. Tittle had a strong season with the Lions in her hometown, posting a 3.36 ERA over 56.1 innings. She had a 5-2 record and ended strong with a win over Central Arkansas and three shutout innings against Bellarmine to win her final two appearances.
UNA head coach Ashley Cozart completes another winning season with the Lions. Over 17 seasons as a head coach and 13 as the head coach at UNA, she has never had a losing record.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
