FLORENCE, Ala. (April 20, 2024) – The University of North Alabama softball team became just the second Atlantic Sun Conference team to reach 30 overall wins this season, winning both games of a twinbill with Kennesaw State on Saturday at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium in Florence.
The Lions allowed just four hits over the two games, using that en route to a 2-1 win in the opener and a more comfortable 6-0 win in the nightcap. Reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week Alivia Wilken allowed just one run on three hits, while game two starter Cassidy Duskin fired a one-hit shutout.
Over the last five games against Kennesaw State, UNA has shut out the Owls in 32 of the last 33 innings. This includes last season's shutout sweep and the two games today. UNA has outscored KSU 25-1 in that span.
UNA totaled 14 hits over the two games, led by junior second baseman Hailey Jones who went 3-for-6. Junior first baseman Lillyanna Cartee had two hits and an RBI in each game. Seven different Lions touched home to combine for the eight runs.
The Lions improve to 30-14 overall and 11-6 in the ASUN, which currently ranks among the top four teams. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State dips to 13-32 overall and 5-12 in the league, as UNA ends a three-game conference win streak for the Owls.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game 1 — North Alabama 2, Kennesaw State 1
The first game was tight, as the Lions and Owls went scoreless through the first three frames. The scoring started in the fourth inning and spilled over into the fifth, as Jones hit an infield single that brought in McKenzie Patterson for the winning run in a 2-1 victory.
Wilken went head-to-head with KSU's Melanie Bennett, as both pitchers finished complete game quality starts. Wilken allowed just one run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Bennett allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and a punchout.
The Lions struck first in interesting fashion, as Cartee hit a foul ball to left field. Shortstop Ava Guzowski sprinted and made a "Jim Edmonds-type" running catch over her shoulder in foul territory, and heads up baserunning by Jones at third turned it into a sacrifice fly.
Despite the run, the Owls used some of that catch momentum in the next half with a solo homer from Macie Howes. The homer broke a 23 inning shutout streak for KSU against the Lions dating back to last season.
A leadoff single by Raegan Clem and a sac bunt by Felicity Frame put the go-ahead run in scoring position, later bringing up Jones with two outs. The junior rolled one over to second on a difficult ball to field, allowing Patterson to come all the way home as the pinch runner for Clem.
Wilken finished the job in the final two innings, tallying a strikeout in the sixth. The game ended on a thrilling play in the middle infield, as shortstop Haven Kirby dove and flipped the ball to Jones at second for an incredible force out.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (15-6)
L – Melanie Bennett (4-10)
S – None
Game 2 — North Alabama 6, Kennesaw State 0
The Lions rallied for five runs in the third inning of the nightcap, rolling to a 6-0 victory to clinch the series.
While the bats did their things, Duskin took care of the Owls. The junior from Northeast Mississippi Community College spooked hitters with just one hit and three walks allowed over seven innings. All four runners were stuck at first, as Duskin never allowed KSU into scoring position.
UNA reached a couple of early runners in the first two innings, but the third time was the charm. Clem started the rally with a walk and would eventually come back around before the inning concluded. The in-between produced five runs, starting with an RBI single by freshman Briley Dover to bring home Patterson.
After reaching on one of her infield singles, Frame dashed home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. Senior Sidney Bevis grounded home Dover for the third run and was followed by Cartee with an RBI single to left field, scoring Kirby. The scoring ended with a sacrifice fly by Grace Gregory, bringing home Bevis standing up.
The waters were calm again until the sixth inning, where Clem reached on another free pass. This time, she stayed in to run and moved up to second on a groundout by Frame, then stole third after a walk to Dover. A sac fly by Jones to score Clem added an insurance run.
Cartee and Dover had multi-hit days. Dover has reached in 23 of the last 24 games.
Pitchers of Record
W – Cassidy Duskin (10-7)
L – Kenley Hilleary (4-6)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions and Owls wrap up the series at 1 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
