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