FLORENCE – University of North Alabama head softball coach Jeremy Reece has announced the hiring of new assistant coach Ricki Rothbauer and graduate assistant coach Nikki Levering.

“Ricki and Nikki come from quality programs and both had excellent playing careers,” said Reece. “I look for both of them to come in and do a great job working with our players. Both are highly intelligent and hard working and want to help build on the past success that the UNA softball program has had.”

Rothbauer replaces former Lion assistant coach Casey Bourgoyne, who left to become the head coach at her alma mater, Gulf South Conference rival Delta State.

• FULL STORY

SOUTHAVEN, Miss., – North Alabama’s run through the 2008 Gulf South Conference Softball Tournament came to an end Sunday with a 4-3 loss to Arkansas Tech in the semi-final round at the Greenbrook Complex. Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Lions rallied to cut the deficit to a single run, but would get no closer.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss., – Jennifer Sharp went 5-for-7 with seven RBI to lead the University of North Alabama softball team to a pair of wins in the elimination round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament Saturday in Southaven, Miss. The freshman first baseman totaled three extra-base hits, including two doubles and a home run as the Lions knocked off Delta State and West Florida to stay alive in the losers’ bracket.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss., – Arkansas Tech torched the Lions for a season-high 15 hits and held the UNA batters in check during a 5-0 win in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament Friday morning in Southaven, Miss.

CARROLLTON, Ga., – After coming up short during an 18-inning road loss to West Georgia, the University of North Alabama softball team rebounded to post a 1-0 win in game two and earn a split on the final day of the regular season Sunday.

LIVINGSTON – Having already locked up the East Division’s No. 4 seed in the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament, the North Alabama softball team showed no ill effects of playing a meaningless series at West Alabama Saturday evening. The Lions won the first game 3-1 and held a commanding 10-3 fourth-inning lead before the second game was cancelled due to inclement weather.

FLORENCE – Despite being swept by Alabama-Huntsville at home Saturday, the University of North Alabama softball team clinched a berth in the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament thanks to a pair of losses by West Georgia on the same day.

DECATUR – A pair of shutout wins on the final day of the Gulf South Conference Crossover put the University of North Alabama softball team in good position to make the upcoming GSC Tournament. The Lions knocked off Arkansas-Monticello and Arkansas Tech to improve to 24-16 overall, including a 4-1 mark at the event.

DECATUR – The North Alabama softball team outscored its opponents 13-0 Saturday at the Gulf South Conference Crossover, getting wins over Christian Brothers and Southern Arkansas at Decatur’s Wilson Morgan Park. The pair of shutouts gives the Lions a 22-16 overall record with a 10-7 mark in GSC play.

DECATUR – Delta State’s Edie Oliver pitched seven scoreless innings and the Lady Statesmen scored an unearned run in the top of the third inning to pick up a 1-0 victory over North Alabama Thursday at the Gulf South Conference Crossover at Decatur’s Wilson Morgan Park.

BIRMINGHAM – For the first time this season and second time in her career, North Alabama centerfielder Lindsey Greene has been named the Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Week. The 5-6 senior had a solid week for the Lions, recording a .600 batting average over UNA’s four games.

FLORENCE – After dropping a 2-1 last-at-bat decision to West Florida, North Alabama rebounded to take the second game 4-1 and earn a split with the Argonauts at home Saturday evening in Gulf South Conference softball action.

FLORENCE – After dropping a 2-1 last-at-bat decision to West Florida, North Alabama rebounded to take the second game 4-1 and earn a split with the Argonauts at home Saturday evening in Gulf South Conference softball action.

BIRMINGHAM – The University of North Alabama softball team was well-represented when the Gulf South Conference released its weekly softball awards late Tuesday.  Senior right fielder Lindsey Bates and junior right hand pitcher Megan Niesel were awarded the league’s Player- and Pitcher-of-the-Week honors after leading the team to a 4-0 showing over the weekend.

FLORENCE – Lindsey Bates went 5-for-7 with five RBI on the day to lead the North Alabama softball team to a pair of home wins over West Alabama Sunday afternoon.  After going 3-for-3 during an 8-2 win in the first game, the senior from Decatur drove in the winning runs with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Lions a 6-4 victory in game two.

FLORENCE – Sarah Whitlow’s RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Kim Lee from second base to give North Alabama a 2-1 win over West Georgia and secure the two-game sweep Saturday in Gulf South Conference softball action.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., – After dropping a 3-1 road decision to NAIA’s fourth-ranked Trevecca Nazarene, the University of North Alabama softball team rebounded in the second game with a 3-0 win to earn a split Tuesday afternoon. Sarah Whitlow went 3-for-5 on the day and Andrea Palmer had a three-run home run as the Lions improved to 14-13 on the season.

HUNTSVILLE – Lindsey Bates collected six hits and Sarah Whitlow had two home runs as the University of North Alabama softball split a road double-header at the nation’s top-ranked Alabama-Huntsville Saturday afternoon.

PENSACOLA, Fla., – The University of North Alabama softball team dominated the first game and rallied to win the second during a 7-0, 2-1 sweep over Pittsburg State Monday in Pensacola, Fla. The two victories, along with a 7-0 win over West Florida in the second game of a double-header on Sunday, gives the Lions a three-game winning streak and a 12-11 record on the season.

PENSACOLA, Fla., – After dropping a 1-0 eight-inning game to West Florida on Sunday, the North Alabama softball team rebounded to knock off the Argonauts 7-0 in game two of the double-header, picking up the team’s first Gulf South Conference win in the process.

VALDOSTA, Ga., – The University of North Alabama softball team opened conference play Saturday with a pair of road losses at Valdosta State. The Lions dropped the first game of the double-header 4-2 before falling 8-6 in the late contest.

FLORENCE – The North Alabama softball team was unable to overcome nine errors in two games during a double-header sweep by Florida Southern Thursday at the UNA Softball Complex. The Lions had five miscues during a 5-1 loss in game one, and followed it up with a four-error showing to fall 6-3 in the second game.

MONTICELLO, Ark., - After dropping the early game to host Arkansas-Monticello, the University of North Alabama softball team rebounded to knock off Arkansas-Pine Bluff Sunday in the final day of the UAM Softball Classic.

DECATUR – Another split in the final day of the UAH Charger Chillout gave the North Alabama softball team a 2-2 record at the event and a 5-4 overall mark. On Sunday, the Lions picked up a 5-3 win over Truman State before coming up short in an upset bid of defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

DECATUR - The University of North Alabama softball team rallied to win the first game, but found itself on the other side of a comeback in the nightcap Saturday at the UAH Charger Chillout in Decatur. The Lions picked up a 2-1 win over Lewis before falling the Missouri Western at Wilson Morgan Park to claim a 4-3 record on the season.

CARROLLTON, Ga., – The University of North Alabama softball team picked up a pair of wins on the final day of the West Georgia Invitational to improve to 3-2 on the year.

CARROLLTON, Ga., – The University of North Alabama softball team opened the 2008 season Friday in Carrollton, Ga., going 1-2 at the West Georgia Wolves Invitational. The Lions began the day by knocking off Armstrong Atlantic before falling to Augusta State and Columbus State.

BIRMINGHAM – Head coaches around the Gulf South Conference have picked the University of North Alabama softball team to finish fourth in the East Division in the upcoming 2008 season. In the league’s annual pre-season release, the Lions received three third-place votes, one vote for fourth and one vote for fifth for a total of 12 points.

FLORENCE – University of North Alabama head softball coach Jeremy Reece announced the signing of four players to the 2008-09 recruiting class.

STARKVILLE, Miss., – The University of North Alabama softball team placed a pair of players on the 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Region team.

FLORENCE – A pair of costly losses to West Florida has put the University of North Alabama softball team’s chances of qualifying for the Gulf South Conference tournament in jeopardy. The Lions dropped a 2-0, 5-3 home double-header to the Argonauts on Saturday to fall to fourth place in the East Division standings.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama softball team rebounded from a 2-1 home loss to West Florida Friday evening to post a one-run win of its own and earn a split in Gulf South Conference play.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama softball team outscored Albany State 15-0 in two games during a double-header sweep Monday evening at Cox Creek Park.

FLORENCE – After scoring first in both contests Saturday afternoon, the University of North Alabama softball team could not hold on to leads against Alabama-Huntsville, dropping a pair of one-run decisions to the visiting Chargers in Gulf South Conference play.

DECATUR – Lindsey Bates went 6-for-7 on the day to lead the University of North Alabama softball team to a pair of victories in the second day of the Gulf South Conference Crossover Friday at Decatur’s Wilson Morgan Park.

DECATUR – The University of North Alabama softball team committed three errors and allowed five unearned runs during an 8-0 loss to Delta State in the first game of the Gulf South Conference Crossover Thursday evening at Decatur’s Wilson Morgan Park.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama softball team got a pair of extra-inning wins over West Alabama Friday evening at Cox Creek Park. The Lions improved to 26-12 overall with a 7-3 mark in GSC play with the 2-1, 7-6 victories.

PENSACOLA, Fla., – Rainy conditions in Pensacola, Fla., forced the suspension of the North Alabama-West Florida Gulf South Conference softball double-header on Sunday.  The first game was called in the top of the second inning with UNA leading 4-0. The game will not count in the GSC standings and will not be made up unless its outcome would affect any team qualifying for the conference tournament in May.  West Florida visits UNA for another double-header on April 28. The Lions’ next games will be at home on April 6 with a pair of GSC contests against West Alabama beginning at 4 p.m. UNA will also host West Georgia the next day with another GSC double-header starting at noon.

VALDOSTA, Ga., – In a battle of the top two teams in the Gulf South Conference East Division, the Valdosta State pitching staff shut down the North Alabama bats Saturday in a pair of shutout victories in Valdosta, Ga.

ALBANY, Ga., – The University of North Alabama softball team outscored Albany State 18-1 Thursday during a double-header road sweep over the Lady Rams. The 9-0, 9-1 victories improve the Lions’ overall record to 24-10 on the season.

MADISON – After dropping a 3-1 decision in the first game of a Gulf South Conference double-header to 13th-ranked Alabama-Huntsville, the University of North Alabama softball team rebounded to earn a split with a 3-0 win Wednesday afternoon in Madison.  With the split, the Lions improve to 22-10 overall with a 5-1 record in GSC play. UAH is now 30-9, 3-3.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss., - The North Alabama softball team committed five errors and was out-hit 21-11 during a pair of losses to Delta State Sunday in Southaven, Miss. The Lions dropped to 21-9 overall after falling 5-2 and 4-3 to the Lady Statesmen. In the first game, Delta State pitcher Edie Oliver stuck out six batters and took a shutout into the seventh inning before picking up the 5-2 win for the Lady Statesmen. 

SOUTHAVEN, Miss., - The University of North Alabama softball team got a pair of strong pitching performances Saturday during a double-header sweep over Southern Arkansas in Southaven, Miss. The Lions improved to 21-7 on the year after downing the Lady Muleriders 11-0 and 3-0.

FLORENCE - Head softball coaches in the Gulf South Conference have picked the University of North Alabama to finish second in the GSC East Division, according to the league’s pre-season release. The Lions received four second-place votes and one vote for third place to total 19 points in the 2007 pre-season poll.

Florence, AL - Jessica Liddy became the first University of North Alabama softball player to earn All-American status when the catcher received second team honors for the 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II list.  "We knew that she had the potential to be an All-American when she first came here," said UNA head coach Jeremy Reece. "She deserves everything after all the hard work and dedication she has put into this program."  The junior from Jupiter, Fla., batted .357 for the season and led the team in total bases (115), slugging percentage (.587), home runs (eight), doubles (17) and RBI (52). She adds the All-American honor to her first-team status as All-Gulf South South Conference and All-South Region in 2006.

Florence, AL - Jessica Liddy became the first University of North Alabama softball player to earn All-American status when the catcher received second team honors for the 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II list.  "We knew that she had the potential to be an All-American when she first came here," said UNA head coach Jeremy Reece. "She deserves everything after all the hard work and dedication she has put into this program."  The junior from Jupiter, Fla., batted .357 for the season and led the team in total bases (115), slugging percentage (.587), home runs (eight), doubles (17) and RBI (52). She adds the All-American honor to her first-team status as All-Gulf South South Conference and All-South Region in 2006.

FLORENCE – After breaking or tying 15 team and individual school records a year ago, the University of North Alabama softball team continued its assault on the record books during the 2006 campaign, setting 25 new school records at the team, individual and career levels.   The Lions set 11 single-season team records, five single-season individual records and set or extended nine career marks on the year

FLORENCE – On the heels of a 40-20 season in 2006, the University of North Alabama softball team placed a record six players on the All-Gulf South Conference teams, while standout Jessica Liddy was named to the All-South Region squad.  Earning first team, All-GSC honors in the East Division were Liddy, Lindsey Greene, Kristin Maas and Nicole Martinez. Lindsey Bates and Stephanie Glienke were second-team selections