MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The University of North Alabama baseball team battled but came up short Sunday in an 11-4 loss to West Alabama that eliminated the Lions from the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

With the loss, UNA ends its season at 29-21, marking the first time since 1988 that a Lion team failed to win 30 or more games in a season.

UNA battled back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game in the sixth but then promptly allowed seven runs in the seventh inning and couldn’t recover.

Jeff Schafer (4-4) took the loss for UNA, allowing three runs on four hits in one and 2/3 innings of relief.

• FULL STORY

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The University of North Alabama managed just six hits and Delta State scored six runs on 15 hits as the Lions dropped a 6-2 decision in the opening round of the 2008 Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament at USA Stadium.

FLORENCE --With their post-season hopes on the line, the University of North Alabama baseball team stepped up with a sweep of Alabama-Huntsville to earn the final East Division spot in the 2008 Gulf South Conference Tournament.

FLORENCE --  Nick Newberry and Ross Parker drove in runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the University of North Alabama to a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Union at Mike Lane Field.

LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- An 8-5 loss Sunday at West Alabama has dropped the University of North Alabama baseball team into a tie for fourth place in the Gulf South Conference East Division with one three-game series to play.

LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- West Alabama scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to win the opener 4-3 and North Alabama scored five runs in the top of the seventh to win the nightcap 8-6 Saturday as the Lions and Tigers split a Gulf South Conference double-header.

FLORENCE -- After squandering a 4-0 lead, the University of North Alabama baseball team rallied from a 6-4 deficit in the seventh inning to post a 10-7 win over Lambuth Wednesday at Mike D. Lane Field.

FLORENCE -- Senior first baseman Josh Graham drove in six runs and scored twice in leading the University of North Alabama to a 12-5 win over Martin Methodist at Mike Lane Field. Graham, from Pontotoc, Miss., had a home run, a double and a single and drove in a run on a groundout. He also missed a grandslam homer in the eighth inning by inches.

FLORENCE -- North Alabama scored one run in the bottom of the ninth and had two runners in scoring position before Valdosta State was able to end the threat and hand UNA a 4-2 loss in the final game of a Gulf South Conference series at Mike Lane Field.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team was looking for a sweep Saturday in its Gulf South Conference double-header with division-leading Valdosta State but had to settle for a split. UNA won the opener 15-5 but dropped the nightcap 6-2.

FLORENCE -- A seventh inning rally fell one run short in the opener but the University of North Alabama scored four runs in its final at bat of the nightcap to earn a split with No. 21 ranked Ouachita Baptist.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team got two strong pitching performances Saturday but was only able to score two runs in two games as the Lions split a double-header with Catawba.

MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- After winning the opening game of a Gulf South Conference series Saturday, the University of North Alabama dropped the final two games to Montevallo, 4-3 and 6-1.  The sweep drops UNA to 19-13 overall and the Lions are 4-5 in the Gulf South Conference East Division.

MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- Ryan Miller allowed just two hits in almost four innings of relief and Ross Parker accounted for five runs as North Alabama downed Montevallo 7-4 in a key Gulf South Conference road contest. The second game of the double-header was suspended with Montevallo ahead 4-3 in the fourth inning. The two teams will resume play at 1 p.m. Sunday.

SEARCY, Ark. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team managed just eight hits in a double-header loss to Harding Tuesday, 2-0 and 4-3. The sweep drops UNA's record to 18-11 overall. Harding got just three hits in the opener  but managed two runs, while holding UNA to five hits and no runs.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Josh Graham had three hits and accounted for five runs Saturday as the North Alabama baseball team rallied for a 12-5 in the final game of a three-game Gulf South Conference series at West Florida.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team managed just 14 hits in two games Saturday as the Lions were swept in a Gulf South Conference double-header by West Florida, 4-1 and 11-8.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team used a 12-hit attack and solid pitching to record its third straight win Tuesday, downing Faulkner 9-3 at University Field.

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama senior second baseman Matt Horton of Cleveland, Ala., has been selected Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Week for his efforts in the Lions' six baseball games last week.

FLORENCE, Ala. - On Friday, March 14, the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the school's baseball facility from University Field to Mike D. Lane Field, in honor of the school's current head baseball coach. Since Mike Lane’s arrival at the University of North Alabama in 1983, University Field has taken on an entirely different look, with overwhelming results.  Among the additions the UNA baseball program has seen under Lane over the years were a new press-box, dugouts, scoreboard, locker room, lights and grand stand - in addition to a vastly improved playing field.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama got two solid pitching performances from its starters, good relief pitching and consistent hitting Sunday in sweeping a Gulf South Conference double-header from West Georgia, 12-3 and 5-2.

FLORENCE -- Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, the University of North Alabama baseball team loaded the bases with no outs but weren't able to get the tying run across the plate in a 10-9 loss to West Georgia in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools.

FLORENCE -- Just one night after an extremely disappointing home loss to Alabama, the University of North Alabama baseball team bounced back with a solid 15-1 pounding of Christian Brothers at University Field.

FLORENCE -- The University of Alabama scored five runs in the first inning and scored in six of the seven frames Tuesday night as the Crimson Tide downed North Alabama 17-2 at University Field.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama combined 11 hits at the plate with a solid, four-hit pitching performance to blast Bethel College (Tenn.) 14-2 at University Field Monday.

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The University of North Alabama baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games to second ranked Ouachita Baptist by identical 4-3 scores in the Tigers final at-bats Wednesday.

FLORENCE -- Off to a solid 12-3 start, the University of North Alabama baseball team is ranked No. 17 in the latest Ping NCAA Division II rankings.

FLORENCE -- Jeffery Ritter drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning and freshman Trey Mitchell got his first collegiate win on the mound as the University of North Alabama completed a three-game sweep of Harding at University Field, 11-8.

FLORENCE -- Junior right fielder Jeffery Ritter homered twice and drove in eight runs to lead the University of North Alabama to a double-header sweep of Harding, 11-1 and 10-7.

FLORENCE -- Delta State batters hit three home runs and North Alabama's hitters managed just seven hits as the Lions dropped a 7-3 decision to the Statesmen at University Field.

FLORENCE -- A pair of strong pitching performances led the University of North Alabama baseball team to a sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday as the Lions improved to 8-1 overall.

PULASKI, Tenn. -- University of North Alabama baseball coach Mike Lane got his 1,000th win as a collegiate head coach Tuesday as the Lions downed Martin Methodist 16-6.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama offense got 12 hits and three Lion pitchers managed to hold a potent Bellarmine lineup to four runs on seven hits as the Lions claimed the series against the Knights with an 8-4 win at University Field. The two teams split a double-header on Saturday.

FLORENCE - The University of North Alabama baseball team took its first lead of the day Saturday in its final at-bat to salvage a split in a double-header with Bellarmine.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Just three games into his baseball career at the University of North Alabama, Jeffrey Ritter is already making a name for himself.   The junior right fielder from South Rockwood, Mich., hit .750 in a three-game series against Arkansas- Monticello and has earned Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Week honors.

FLORENCE -- North Alabama scored 11 runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 14-4 win over Arkansas-Monticello at University Field Sunday, closing out a three-game sweep of the Boll Weevils.  UNA outscored Monticello 45-10 in the three games and out-hit UAM 39-18.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team opened its 2008 campaign in style at the newly renovated University Field Saturday as the Lions downed Arkansas-Monticello 13-2 and 18-4. UNA scored its 31 runs on 30 hits and also took advantage of 16 errors by the Boll Weevils.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team has been picked to finish fourth in the East Division in a pre-season poll of Gulf South Conference baseball coaches.

FLORENCE – University of North Alabama head baseball coach Mike Lane has announced the early signing of five players for the 2008-09 recruiting  class.

BIRMINGHAM -- The University of North Alabama baseball team placed five players on the 2007 All-Gulf South Conference Baseball Team, as selected by the league's head coaches.  Second baseman A.J. Reed, shortstop Matt Horton, outfielder Josh Phillips and pitchers Richard Brindle and Jeff Schafer earned first-team All-GSC honors. Outfielder Trey Pollard was selected second-team All-GSC. 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team suffered a season- ending 4-3 loss at Alabama-Huntsville Sunday, with the defeat eliminating the Lions from a possible berth in the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

HUNTSVILLE -- A split with Alabama-Huntsville Saturday in a crucial Gulf South Conference double-header has left the University of North Alabama baseball team in a must-win situation in Sunday's series finale if the Lions hope to advance to the GSC Tournament.

FLORENCE, Ala. –  Jordan West and Frank Dougherty combined to limit Martin Methodist to six hits and  North Alabama scored 13 runs on 12 hits  to down the Red Hawks 13-3.  UNA led 5-3 after four innings but the Lions got two runs on the board in the fifth and added six more in the sixth.

FLORENCE -- North Alabama sent the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning but couldn't complete a comeback attempt Sunday as West Alabama escaped University Field with a 9-6 victory over the Lions.

FLORENCE, Ala. -- A five-run seventh inning helped North Alabama win the opener 7-6 but West Alabama rallied for a 5-0 victory in the nightcap of the Gulf South Conference double-header at University Field.

VALDOSTA, Ga. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team suffered a huge setback Saturday, losing a Gulf South Conference double-header to Valdosta State, 14-13 and 5-4. The Lions lost both games in the Blazers' final at-bat. VSU scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth in the opener to overcome a 13-11 UNA lead and forced extra innings in the nightcap before getting a game-winning homer in the bottom of the eighth.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama jumped out to a 9-3 lead and held off Trevecca in the late innings Tuesday as the Lions got their eighth straight victory with an 11-10 win over the Trojans.  UNA trailed 3-2 in the fourth inning but picked up three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth for a 9-3 lead.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama got solid pitching performances from Jeff Schafer and Richard Brindle and rolled to a double-header sweep of Clark-Atlanta, 4-0 and 12-1 at University Field. The sweep extends UNA's winning streak to seven games and ups the Lions overall record to 27-14-1.

PULASKI, Tenn. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team notched its fifth straight win Thursday with a 6-3 victory at Martin Methodist.  Justin Walters pitched five innings to get the win and Justin Fleming pitched the final four innings to record the save.  The Lions scored six runs on just six hits, led by Josh Phillips and Ross Parker with two hits each.  UNA hosts Clark-Atlanta next Monday at 2 p.m. and wil host Trevecca Nazarene on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

MONTICELLO, Ark. -- North Alabama swept a double-header from Arkansas-Monticello Wednesday by scores of 12-3 and 11-5.  The sweep improves UNA's record to 24-14-1 overall and extends the Lions' current winning streak to four games.

FLORENCE -- A grandslam by Josh Graham and clutch relief pitching from Nick Newberry helped lead the North Alabama baseball team to a series win over Montevallo with a 12-6 victory Sunday at University Field.

FLORENCE -- Daniel Johnson ripped a two-out, two-run single to right in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift North Alabama to an 8-7 win over Montevallo and earn a split in a double-header with the Falcons.

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. --Ouachita Baptist pounded 17 hits and got a complete-game pitching performance as the Tigers down North Alabama 13-3 Wednesday in a non-conference game at Rab Rodgers Field.  The loss drops UNA to 19-13-1 overall, while OBU improved to 32-2. UNA got a run in the first inning and added two more in the third, but the Ouachita Baptist hitters scored in each of the first five innings and led 12-3 after five. Another run in the seventh ended the game.

FLORENCE -- Justin Walters and Nick Newberry combined on a three-hit shutout Sunday as the University of North Alabama  downed West Florida 3-0 in Gulf South Conference baseball action at University Field.  The win by UNA prevented West Florida from sweeping the series with the Lions and improves North Alabama's record to 19-12-1 overall and 3-3 in the GSC. West Florida is 24-10 and 3-3.

FLORENCE -- The North Alabama baseball team struggled at the plate all day as the Lions dropped a Gulf South Conference double-header to West Florida at University Field, 3-1 and 10-3. With the losses, UNA drops to 18-12-1 overall and 2-3 in the GSC. West Florida improved to 24-9 and 3-2.

FLORENCE -- Wednesday was a day the University of North Alabama baseball team would just as soon forget as the Lions came out on the short end of a 16-3 contest with Columbus State. The Lions allowed 19 hits, had only seven hits of their own and committed six errors in the loss. UNA drops to 18-10-1 with the loss and the Cougars improved to 24-7.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team ripped 22 hits, played solid defense and got strong pitching performances from both its starters and relievers as the Lions swept a double-header from Henderson State, 5-2 and 8-2.

FLORENCE -- Daniel Johnson delivered two clutch hits and Frank Dougherty pitched three scoreless innings of relief as North Alabama rallied for an 8-3 win Sunday in the second game of a double- header against Arkansas Tech.

FLORENCE -- Jarrett Shepherd had three hits and Richard Brindle pitched five strong innings as the University of North Alabama won its 2007 baseball season-opener 4-2 over Arkansas Tech at University Field.

With 12 returning lettermen, including six returning pitchers, the University of North Alabama baseball team hopes to again be a contender in the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Division II in 2007.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- University of North Alabama Head Baseball Coach Mike Lane will inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, January 19, at the Birmingham Marriott.

FLORENCE -- Long-time University of North Alabama head baseball coach Mike Lane will be Roasted in February as part of a fund-raising effort to build a stadium at University Field.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team was ranked in nine team categories in the final 2006 NCAA Division II statistics and Lion junior outfielder James Barksdale claimed an individual statistical national championship for stolen bases.