TROY, Ala. (February 11, 2024) – The University of North Alabama softball team wrapped up a successful run at the Trojan Invitational on Sunday morning at Troy, bringing home a 4-1 record following a 2-1 extra innings loss to Troy in the final game.
After starting the season 4-0 with two wins over Samford and single wins over UT Martin and Troy, the Lions were on the verge of completing the full sweep before Jade Sinness hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Trojans also improved to 4-1 with the win, avenging a 7-4 loss to UNA on Friday evening.
Junior transfer
Alivia Wilken made her fourth appearance and second start in the circle on Sunday, tossing another gem with just two runs allowed — one earned — over 7.1 innings. She allowed six hits with just one walk and a season-high five strikeouts in her first loss of the season.
Wilken finishes an incredible weekend with 19.2 innings pitched and an impressive 0.36 ERA to show for it. Over the first three games, she retired 27 straight batters before allowing a baserunner, including a 7.0 inning perfect game in a shutout of Samford in the season-opener. She totaled 12 strikeouts and just two walks over the weekend while limiting opponents to a .152 average.
Despite the loss, the UNA offense created numerous opportunities with seven hits and 12 runners left on base. All seven hits came from seven different players, including a double by senior outfielder
McKenzie Patterson.
Troy struck first in the first inning with a double and sacrifice fly, but Wilken did not allow another run to score until the unearned run in extra innings.
UNA threated in both of the first two innings, stranding two runners on base both times with hits from
Sydney Harris and
Sidney Bevis. The Lions threatened again in the fourth with Patterson's double and a single by
Raegan Clem to move her over. Troy once again escaped on a popout.
After five scoreless innings, the Lions finally broke through in the sixth. Facing reliever Alyssa Faircloth, true freshman
Briley Dover led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice by
Ryleigh Boyett. Using her speed, Dover raced around third on an infield single by pinch hitter
Jaiden Farnetti and beat the throw from first to home to tie the game in thrilling fashion.
After Wilken shut down Troy the next two innings, including a strikeout on the corner to force extra innings, the Lions moved on to the eighth inning. Unable to score, the UNA defense went to work and got a diving catch from Dover on a bunt for the first out. Unfortunately after that, Troy hit back-to-back singles to score the placed runner at second.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alyssa Faircloth (2-0)
L –
Alivia Wilken (2-1)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will play five more games next weekend at the Chattanooga Challenge hosted by the Chattanooga Mocs. UNA will play Murray State, twice against Western Kentucky, once against in-state rival Jacksonville State and will conclude against UTC on Sunday.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Lions will travel to Alabama for a midweek showdown with the Tide. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
