BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 23, 2024) – The University of North Alabama softball team picked up two wins to open the Green & Gold Classic hosted by UAB on Friday, blanking Bradley by a 5-0 final and clipping Western Carolina 2-1 to commence play in Birmingham.
The Lions improve to a 9-4 record a sweep a multi-team doubleheader for the third time this season. UNA has opened all three of its round robin tournaments this season with two wins, including a sweep of Troy and Samford at the Trojan Invitational and a sweep of Murray State and WKU last week in Chattanooga.
UNA did not need very much offense today thanks in part to junior transfers
Alivia Wilken and
Cassidy Duskin in the circle. Wilken tossed a two-hitter over seven innings against Bradley, allowing just four base runners all game. She finished with one walk and one strikeout, while forcing 12 flyouts and eight groundouts in a 5-0 win.
In the second game, Duskin got the nod and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning with a 1-0 lead. The Northeast Mississippi transfer allowed just one run in the seventh inning and stranded the tying run in scoring position for a 2-1 win over the Catamounts. She finished with just one run allowed on five hits with no walks.
Offensively, UNA had 15 hits over the two games, including four from senior outfielder
Felicity Frame. Senior infielder
Haven Kirby finished with three hits over two games, including both RBIs in the second game.
Game 1 —North Alabama 5, Bradley 0
Wilken allowed just two hits, while the UNA offense took a three-run lead by the third inning en route to a 5-0 shutout in the tournament opener.
Frame started the game with a first inning double and a third inning bunt single, netting UNA some early baserunning. The second time was the charm, as Frame came around to score after a walk to
Hailey Jones and a single by Kirby loaded the bases.
Briley Dover put one in play to move everyone up a base and make it 1-0.
Raegan Clem drew an RBI walk, while
Jaiden Farnetti brought home another to make it 3-0.
UNA added insurance in the fourth and fifth, as Jones hit an RBI single to score leadoff hitter
Sydney Harris to push the lead to four runs. Hartselle native
Lillyanna Cartee had her first career hit as a Lion in the fifth inning, later scoring on an RBI single by hometown hero
Sidney Bevis.
With a comfortable lead, Wilken finished off her shutout in the sixth and the seventh. Bradley threatened with a triple to left center for a one-out base runner, but a pair of infield pop ups ended any thoughts of a rally.
Frame went a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, while eight different Lions reached base either by walk or hit. Over the last three games, Jones is hitting 5-for-10 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
Pitchers of Record
W –
Alivia Wilken (5-2)
L – Camryn Schaller (0-2)
S – None
Game 2 — North Alabama 2, Western Carolina 1
The Lions moved into the road dugout for game two and had a solid outing from Duskin, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning. The Catamounts mounted a comeback with a two-out RBI double to stay alive, but UNA shut down any thoughts of a walk-off en route to a 2-1 win.
Duskin was locked into a pitcher's duel with WCU's Tessa Juett, coming out with her fourth win of the season while giving Juett her first loss.
UNA reached three runners over the first two innings, but did not score until the third. Frame led off with a single for her fourth hit in five at-bats, then moved to second on a bunt single by Harris. An infield single by Jones moved everyone up a bag, then Kirby skied a sac fly to score Frame. WCU tight-roped out of the jam after that.
On the other side, Duskin did not allow a hit until the fourth inning — a one-out single. The next batter would hit into a 6-4-3 double play started by Kirby and Jones and ended by first baseman
Danielle Taitt.
Another big defensive moment came in the sixth with true freshman
Emma Kate Wright subbed in at catcher after pinch-hitting in the last half inning. With a runner on second and two-outs, WCU singled to centerfield with hopes of tying the game. Instead, senior outfielder
McKenzie Patterson threw out the runner at the plate to end the inning in exciting fashion.
Kirby hit an RBI triple in the seventh to score Frame again, taking a 2-0 lead into the final frame. Duskin got two quick outs, but back-to-back hits put WCU on the board for the first time. A flyout ended the threat.
Pitchers of Record
W –
Cassidy Duskin (4-1)
L – Tessa Juett (1-1)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions are back in action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against tournament host UAB. UNA completes play with a rematch against No. 10 Alabama the same day at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Mary Bowers Field at UAB.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
