FLORENCE, Ala. (March 19, 2024) – This Wednesday will be a special one at the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium in Florence, as the University of North Alabama softball team will host Tennessee State for a 4 p.m. midweek game.
 
Prior to the game, UNA will welcome the Anderson family for a special softball field dedication set to begin 15 minutes prior to first pitch. This dedication is in honor of the recent facility upgrades at the stadium, including the addition of FieldTurf this season.
 
The game will air on ESPN+ and live stats will be available via StatBroadcast. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, online at RoarLions.com or by calling 256-765-5466.
 
GAMEDAY INFO
Tennessee State vs. North Alabama
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
4 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes | Tickets | Twitter
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama took two of three from Lipscomb this past weekend in Florence, winning both the opener and finale with a pair of 3-0 shutouts. The Bisons salvaged the series in game two, overcoming a 4-1 deficit with a four-run rally in the seventh inning to win 5-4.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA enters with a 20-9 record and are one of three teams in the ASUN with 20-plus wins along with EKU and FGCU. The Lions played five non-conference invitationals earlier this season and left with a winning record each time. The roster includes 25 players, including 13 returners and 12 newcomers. Nineteen of the 25 players are either juniors or seniors, giving UNA one of the more experienced rosters in the ASUN. UNA is No. 109 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS: Tennessee State marks the second straight UNA opponent to come down from Nashville. The Tigers own a 14-11 record and are on the hunt for their second all-time winning season and the first since 2007. Led by fifth-year head coach Genee McRath, the Tigers are on pace for their best season yet with a 14-11 record and a No. 165 RPI ranking. TSU is led by reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week Caitlyn Manus who went 4-0 in four appearances last week. Graduate infielder Nahtali Simpson is the leading hitter with 30 hits and a .448 batting average in 25 starts.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UNA has dominated the series since the start in 1987, owning a perfect 13-0 record. That undefeated streak was in deep jeopardy last season, as Tennessee State nearly pulled the upset but fell short 2-1 in Nashville. TSU's last visit to Florence was for a three-game series in 2021, where UNA won all three games and won two via six-inning run rules. UNA is outscoring TSU in those 13 games by a combined 120-15 margin.
 
WILKEN WORLD: Junior transfer Alivia Wilken has been outstanding in the circle for UNA this season, owning a 10-4 record with a 2.16 ERA over 96.0 innings pitched. She pitched two complete game shutouts last weekend and has went the distance 11 times this season. Her 96.0 innings ranks third in the nation.
 
FIELDING IT WELL: The Lions rank 11th in the nation with a .979 fielding percentage this season. This total also leads the ASUN. UNA has finished error-less in 17 of its 29 games and have a 13-4 record when doing so. Meanwhile, UNA is 12-0 when the opponent commits more than one error.
 
DOUBLE VISION: UNA ranks 31st nationally and first in the ASUN in doubles with 44 to average 1.52 per game. Many of those come from the middle infield of junior Hailey Jones and senior Haven Kirby, who have eight apiece.
 
FRAME THIS: Senior outfielder Felicity Frame led the ASUN in hitting last season and currently leads the ASUN this season with 38 hits. Frame is batting .409 this season, has a .466 on-base percentage and has stolen nine bases in 11 attempts.
 
SECOND INNING SUCCESS: Over 29 games, UNA has allowed just two runs in the second inning of games this season.
 
PRESEASON POLLS: The ASUN announced its preseason information in February, as North Alabama landed its highest preseason ranking of the Division I era in third place behind Central Arkansas and FGCU. Jones represented the Lions on the preseason all-conference team as an infielder. All 12 teams began conference play last weekend.
 
INCOMING TALENT: Of the 12 newcomers on the UNA roster, seven come from the junior college level and three are true freshman. The other two are redshirt freshmen from other NCAA Division I schools, including pitchers Kyleigh Pitzer from the University of Louisiana and Lilian Berry from Penn State. Three of the newcomers are listed as utility players.
 
ON THE HORIZON: Wednesday's game closes a 10-game home stand for UNA. The Lions will be on the road the next two weekends with a series at Queens running March 23-24 and a series at EKU closing the month March 30-31. UNA is back home April 6-7 to host FGCU.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.