CONWAY, Ark. (April 12, 2024) – The University of North Alabama softball team heads to Conway, Ark. this weekend for an important Atlantic Sun Conference series, as the Lions battle Central Arkansas beginning Saturday, April 13 at 3 p.m. at Farris Field.
 
Right after the 3 p.m. game, the Lions and Bears cap off a Saturday doubleheader. The series finale is set for Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m.
 
The Lions and Bears were the last two standing in 2023, as Central Arkansas won the ASUN Championship and North Alabama finished runner-up. This season, North Alabama and Central Arkansas are deadlocked in a tie for fifth in the ASUN standings, owning 7-5 records.
 
UNA and UCA are separated by just two spots in the NCAA RPI, as UNA is 95 and UCA is 97. Five teams from the ASUN are ranked among the top 100, including FGCU, EKU and North Florida. The RPI includes 307 teams, meaning nearly half the league is in the top third of the nation.
 
All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at RoarLions.com.
 
GAME 1
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Saturday, April 6
2 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes
 
GAME 2
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Saturday, April 6
4:30 p.m.
ESPN+ |Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes
 
GAME 3
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Sunday, April 7
10 a.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes
 
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: Over the last two weeks, UNA has battled both of the top RPI teams in the ASUN in EKU and FGCU. The Lions dropped doubleheader days, but won the series finale each time to take one of three. This past Sunday, UNA blanked FGCU by way of a 5-0 shutout. Alivia Wilken salvaged a tight series with a three-hit shutout in the finale.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA is 26-13 overall and 7-5 in the ASUN, sitting in a tie for fifth in the league standings having faced two of the top four teams. The Lions have won at least one game in every series this season and left all five non-conference tournaments with a winning record. UNA excels in all three phases of the game as the only ASUN team to rank top four in batting average (.268), team ERA (2.27) and fielding percentage (.977).
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS: Central Arkansas is 16-22 overall and 7-5 in the conference standings. Last season, UCA finished 45-12 overall and won the ASUN regular season and tournament titles with a 22-2 conference record. Looking to find that magic again, UCA started 0-4 in league play, but has since won seven of the last eight. The Bears have won each of their last three series with a sweep of Stetson and series wins over Austin Peay and Queens.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UNA and Central Arkansas have had some battles — 21 to be exact. Central Arkansas holds a slim 11-10 advantage in the series.
 
The rivalry started in 1998 as the Bears took a 4-1 victory in Southaven, Miss. The Alabama/Arkansas foes met halfway three more times in 1999 and 2000, with UNA winning all three in Mississippi. The two battled as Gulf South Conference opponents for a time until Central Arkansas made the jump to Division I in the mid-2000s.
 
Over 10 years removed, the rivalry was renewed with a non-conference game in 2019, as the Lions run-ruled Central Arkansas in Conway by a 10-1 final — making a statement during UNA's first season of Division I.
 
Over the last two seasons, UNA has battled Central Arkansas 10 times — more than any other opponent the last two seasons. The Bears have taken seven of those 10 meetings, taking two of three in both 2022 and 2023 in Florence. The other four games were in postseason play, as UCA eliminated UNA from the 2022 ASUN Tournament, while the Lions got their revenge with an upset win in 2023. The Lions and Bears met again later in the 2023 tournament, with UNA holding the winner's advantage in the championship final. Central Arkansas survived and won both games to take the title.
 
POWER TRIO: Infielders Haven Kirby, Hailey Jones and Briley Dover have been dangerous at the plate this season, combining for 13 homers, 26 doubles and eight triples. The three also combine for 68 of UNA's 140 RBIs this season.
 
FRAME THIS: Senior outfielder Felicity Frame led the ASUN with 72 hits last season and is currently tied atop the league with 48 hits this season. She is batting .403 in 119 at-bats this season, ranking third in both batting average and total at-bats.
 
SHUTOUT QUEENS: UNA's pitching trio of Wilken, Cassidy Duskin and Kyleigh Pitzer rank ninth in the nation in shutouts, as all three tossed one at Queens three weekends ago in Charlotte. Wilken leads the staff with seven shutouts to rank third in the nation and first in the league, including a shutout against FGCU last time out.
 
KEEPING RUNNERS AT BAY: The Lions rank second in the ASUN with a 2.27 ERA and have the lowest walk total in the league with just 68 free passes. UNA has also shown good control this season with a league-low six wild pitches.
 
RIGHTY VS. LEFTY: UNA has had just over 1,000 at-bats, including 981 against right-handers and just 64 against left-handers. UNA opponents cannot say the same, as Duskin and Wilken make up one of the rare lefty duos in the nation. UNA has pitched in 968 at-bats this season, with 781 coming from left-handers.
 
ON THE HORIZON: UNA returns home for the next series, battling Kennesaw State on April 20-21 at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium. The final non-conference game is set for Wednesday, April 24 against UT Martin in Lexington, Tenn. After that, UNA ends the regular season with a series at Bellarmine and a home series against Austin Peay.
 
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