FLORENCE, Ala. – North Alabama built an early 11-2 lead and then held on for a 12-10 win over Bellarmine to sweep an ASUN Conference series against the Knights. The game was also the final home game at Mike Lane Field for UNA head coach Mike Keehn after 34 total years coaching the Lions.
 
UNA got three runs in the first inning, five in the second, two in the third for a 10-0 lead before a 30-minute lightning delay.
 
The Knights outscored the Lions 10-2 after the game resumed but UNA was able to hold on for their third straight win.
 
With the win, UNA is now 12-37 overall and 5-22 in the ASUN. Bellarmine drops to 11-39 overall and 8-19 in the conference.

Keehn, who was an assistant coach at UNA for 20 years before being elevated to head coach in 2009, announced on Saturday that he would be retiring at the end of the season, making SUnday's game his last at Mike Lane Field. The Lions responded with a 15-hit performance to send him out with a win, but it wasn't without some drama.
 
UNA junior second baseman Drew Hudson hit for the cycle in the game, becoming the first Lion to  do so since 2004. Hudson homered in the first inning, tripled in the second, singled in the fourth and doubled in the sixth to complete the cycle.


Hudson celebrates after a sixth inning double that completed the cycle.
 
In the first inning, Reid Homan reached on a fielder's choice, Devne Daniel walked and Hudson hit a three-run homer to put UNA on top.
 
In the second, Cal Cook and Levi Jensen both walked and Luke Harper drove in a run with a single. Austin Thrasher sacrificed in Jensen and Homan tripled to drive in Harper. Daniel singled in Homan and Hudson's tripled plated the fifth run of the inning.
 
In the third, Jensen singled and scored on a Harper RBI-double. Harper then scored on an RBI-single by Thrasher to make it 10-0.
 
After the delay, Bellarmine scored two runs in the fourth inning but UNA got one back in the bottom of the fourth when Hudson singled, stole second and scored on a Cal Cook sacrifice fly to make it 11-2.
 
Bellarmine scored four runs in the seventh to make it 11-6 but UNA got a run in the bottom of the frame when Jensen singled and eventually scored on a Thrasher sacrifice fly.
 
Bellarmine scored three more in the eighth to make it 12-9 and scored on back-to-back doubles in the ninth to close the gap to 12-10. With the bases loaded and two outs, Harper, who went from catcher to pitcher in the ninth inning, got Matt Higgins to flyout to end the game.
 
Hudson was 4-for-4 with a walk, scoring two runs and driving in four. Harper was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
UNA starter Jacob James (3-5) got the win, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings. He walked five and struckout six. Harper got his first save of the season in just his second appearance on the mound.
 
North Alabama plays at Mississippi State on Tuesday.


UNA Head Baseball Coach Mike Keehn was recognized prior to his final home game at UNA.
He was joined on the field by, from left, his son Austin, daughter Erica, wife Lisa and daughter Jessica.