NO-HITTER LIFTS UNA TO SERIES WIN OVER FLAMES

Box Score FLORENCE – Megan Garst pitched a no-hitter and Riley Grace Honeycutt hit her first career home run as the University of North Alabama softball team edged Liberty 1-0 Sunday in the ASUN Conference series finale. The win gives UNA the series victory over Flames and put the Lions one win away from clinching a spot in the upcoming ASUN Tournament.

Garst records her second straight 1-0 victory over Liberty. The junior from Columbiana also tossed a three-hit shutout in the series opener on Saturday. She finished the week with two wins and a save to go along with 21 strikeouts. She has also run a streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to a 3-2 victory in the series opener at Kennesaw State.

On Sunday, Garst retired 12 of the first 13 batters she faced with one hit batter. The Flames led off the top of the fifth inning with a walk before seniors Mackenzie Roberts and Alex Brown teamed up to catch the runner stealing. Garst sat down eighth of the next nine Liberty players with one more hit batter. She struck out the final two batters in the top of the seventh to end the game.

The game represented the first time Liberty had been held hitless since the 2016 Big South Tournament. The no-hitter is the second of Garsts' career and first at the Division I level. She also no-hit West Georgia on April 8 of last season.

UNA (23-18 overall, 8-10 ASUN) managed seven hits on the day, but could only score the single run. Honeycutt led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo shot to right field. The Liberty outfielder was able to get a glove on the ball just over the fence, but could not hold on.

Honeycutt, a freshman from Northport, was in the lineup at third base after starter Veronica Westfall was injured at home plate trying to score on a base hit. Seven different UNA players finished the game with one hit each.

UNA will play at Memphis Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Lions will return to ASUN play the following weekend to close the regular season with three games at Jacksonville.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Alex Brown: UT; 5' 4"; Senior; R-R

#3 Megan Garst: P; 5' 6"; Junior; R-R

#25 Mackenzie Roberts: C/UT; 5' 7"; Senior; R-R

#20 Veronica Westfall: P/UT; 5' 2"; Junior; R-R

Players Mentioned

#6 Alex Brown
: 5' 4"; Senior; R-R
: UT

#3 Megan Garst
: 5' 6"; Junior; R-R
: P

#25 Mackenzie Roberts
: 5' 7"; Senior; R-R
: C/UT

#20 Veronica Westfall
: 5' 2"; Junior; R-R
: P/UT