Kirby
Drew Barton
0
Lipscomb LIP 11-17, 1-2 ASUN
3
Winner North Alabama UNA 20-9, 2-1 ASUN
Lipscomb LIP
11-17, 1-2 ASUN
0
Final
3
North Alabama UNA
20-9, 2-1 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Lipscomb LIP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
North Alabama UNA 1 0 0 2 0 0 X 3 3 1

W: Wilken, Alivia (10-4) L: SAPP, Ryleigh (4-6)

Game Recap: Softball |

Wilken, Kirby guide Lions to series win over Lipscomb, 3-0

Junior pitcher tosses another shutout; Senior infielder doubles and homers in series finale

FLORENCE, Ala. (March 17, 2024) – Same pitcher. Same results.

After splitting the first two games of a three-game set against Lipscomb yesterday, the University of North Alabama softball team went back to the well Sunday and used another complete game shutout from junior pitcher Alivia Wilken to win 3-0 and take the series at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium in Florence.

With the win, UNA secures its first ASUN opening series win since 2021. The Lions also take two of three from Lipscomb for the third straight time, also doing so in 2021 and 2022. The two sides did not play each other last season.

Wilken started the series with a three-hit shutout Saturday and replicated that line again Sunday. The New Market, Ala. native allowed just three hits in another seven-inning shutout. She finishes the weekend with nine strikeouts to just three walks — including no walks Sunday. Today marks the fourth time this season Wilken has not walked anyone in a full seven inning game.

Wilken improves to a 10-4 record this season with a 2.16 ERA over 96.0 innings pitched.

While the former Buckhorn High school standout dominated in the circle, the offense got all the run support it needed in the first inning. A leadoff walk to senior Felicity Frame started things for UNA, allowing fellow senior Haven Kirby to gap a two-out RBI double.

Kirby added another blow for good measure in her next at-bat, sending a solo shot into the left field deck to make it 2-0. Right after that, true freshman Briley Dover had a hard hit triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Lillyanna Cartee.

The two multi-base hits from Kirby and the triple from Dover were the only ones for North Alabama on Sunday, but it proved to be enough. Meanwhile, Lipscomb had three singles, but no multi-base hits.

For the series, seven different Lions totaled at least two hits. Defensively, Wilken and fellow pitcher Cassidy Duskin limited Lipscomb's offense to just .164 over three games.

The Lions improve to 20-9 overall and 2-1 in league play, while Lipscomb moves to 11-17 and starts ASUN play 1-2. UNA also clinches its third-straight 20-win season.

Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (10-4)
L -- Ryleigh Sapp (4-6)
S – None

The Lions wrap up a long 10-game home stand on Wednesday, March 20 at 4 p.m. against Tennessee State.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
 

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