FLORENCE, Ala. --
Jacob Bradshaw and
Austin Emener combined to strikeout 14 Cincinnati batters and the North Alabama offense backed them with 12 hits as the Lions downed the Bearcats 5-2 in UNA's home opener at Mike Lane Field.
Bradshaw and Cincinnati's Tristan Weaver were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel before the Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and then added two more in the sixth.
Cincinnati (2-3) scored its only runs in the top of the eighth inning.
UNA, now 1-3, took the lead in the fifth inning on a walk and three consecutive doubles.
Austin Thrasher drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second by
Dominick McIntyre and scored on a double by
Jonathan Lane. Lane then scored on a
Drew Hudson RBI-double and Hudson scored on
Devne Daniel's second double of the day. Devne's hit also chased Weaver from the game after he had struckout nine batters over four and a third innings.
Bradshaw pitched into the sixth inning for UNA, despite walking nine batters. He did not allow a run and the only Cincinnati hit was a bad-hop double past third base.
The Lions extended the lead in the sixth as they got four straight hits off reliever Max Bergman to make it 5-0.
Reid Homan had a leadoff single and scored on a double by
Levi Jensen. Jensen then scored on Thrasher's RBI-single.
Emener came on in relief for UNA and struckout five of the first six batters that he faced.
The Bearcats scored two runs in a long eighth inning on a combination of three hits, a walk and a hit batter, but Emener struckout Paul Komistek to end the threat.
Emener then retired the Bearcats in order in the ninth to preserve the win and earn a save.
Bradshaw (1-1) got the win, allowing no runs on one hit over five and a third innings. He struckout six batters.
Emener pitched the final three and two-thirds innings, walking one and striking out eight.
Daniel led UNA with three hits, while Thrasher and McIntyre had two each.
The Lions and Bearcats play a double-header at Mike Lane Field on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Austin Thrasher
Levi Jensen
Jonathan Lane
Peyton Thomas
Dominick McIntyre
Devne Daniel
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