FLORENCE, Ala. – North Alabama rallied to score five runs in the eighth inning but it wasn't enough as Jacksonville State held on for a 13-8 ASUN Conference baseball win over the Lions at Mike Lane Field.
 
UNA led 2-0 before JSU exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning. The Gamecocks then extended their lead to 11-2 before the UNA rally. Jacksonville State then added two insurance runs in the ninth inning.
 
With the loss, North Alabama drops to 9-30 overall and 2-17 in the ASUN Conference. KJSU improved to 19-21 overall and 12-7 in league play.
 
The Lions got two runs in the first inning when Luke Harper got a leadoff triple and scored on an Austin Thrasher RBI-single. Jonathan Lane then tripled and scored on a ground out by Devne Daniel.
 
UNA added a run in the sixth when Reid Homan singled and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
Down 11-3 in the eighth, the Lions first five batters in the inning reached base and five runs would score. With the bases loaded, Zak Majer drove in a run with an RBI-single, Homan scored from third on an error and Cal Cook drove in a run with a single. Harper reached on an error and a run scored on the play and he then scored on a wild pitch.
 
UNA starter Austin Nichols (1-7) took the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits over three and two-thirds innings.
 
The Lions and Gamecocks play the second game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.