FLORENCE, Ala. -- After letting a 2-0 lead slip away in a 3-2 loss in the opening game, the University of North Alabama softball team run-ruled Eastern Kentucky 8-0 in game two to earn a split in the first two games of the ASUN Conference series.

UNA starter Maci Birdyshaw pitched a no-hitter through five innings of the opener, with UANA getting two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by Gracie Benton and an RBI-single from Sidney Bevis.

The Colonels then scored three runs on four hits in the sixth inning and left the bases loaded after taking a 3-2 lead.

The Lions didn't get a runner on base over the last two innings.

In game two, UNA got a run in the first inning on a Bevis double and a Hailey Jones RBI-single.

The Lions pushed it to 3-0 in the third as Bevis hit a leadoff home run and Georgia Land walked and scored on a Benton RBI-double.

The flood gates opened with a five-run fourth inning on four hits, two errors and a walk. Bevis, Land and Burbank drove in single runs and Benton drove in two.

Elena Excobar (6-2) pitched a complete-game, five-inning shutout, holding EKU to one hit with three walks and five strikeouts.

Birdyshaw (8-4) took the loss in the opener.

UNA is now 20-9 overall and 2-6 in the ASUN.

The Lions and Colonels meet in the final game of the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex.