LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 28, 2024) – Sweep secured.
For the second time this season, the University of North Alabama softball team picked up a road series sweep in Atlantic Sun Conference play, finishing the series with a 4-0 win at Bellarmine on Sunday in Louisville, Ky.
The Lions earn their first sweep since taking three from Queens in March. UNA now owns series wins over Lipscomb, Queens, Central Arkansas, Kennesaw State and Bellarmine while taking one of three from ASUN leaders EKU and FGCU.
While yesterday's doubleheader wins over Bellarmine were highlighted by electric offense, the pitching took centerstage in Sunday's finale. Junior ace Alivia Wilken posted her eighth shutout of the season, scattering just three hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
For the series, Wilken posts 13.0 shutout innings with just five hits allowed, one walk and seven punchouts. She also improves to a 17-6 record and 1.32 ERA this season.
The UNA offense finished with four runs on seven hits, starting with two runs in the opening frame courtesy of three UNA infielders. The second at-bat of the game resulted in a one-out double from true freshman Briley Dover, who came home on a single by junior Hailey Jones. Jones scored in the next at-bat, as senior Haven Kirby singled down the left field line.
Kirby — who along with Jones produced two grand slams for UNA on Saturday — came back around in the third inning and singled home Dover to make it 3-0. Dover had a pair of doubles in her first two at-bats, giving her eight for the season.
Kirby completed her second three-hit game of the weekend with a leadoff single in the sixth and later scored on a grounder to shortstop by senior outfielder Sidney Bevis.
Dover, Kirby and Jones combined for six hits in the 2-3-4 spots, while senior leadoff hitter Felicity Frame added a single in the seventh inning. That single marked her 300th career hit, including 173 at the JUCO level and 127 at UNA.
UNA improves to 33-15 overall and 14-7 in the ASUN, currently good enough for fourth place in the standings. Bellarmine dips to 13-31 overall and 5-16 in league play, which is 1.5 games back of eighth place Kennesaw State pending today's result against Central Arkansas.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (17-6)
L – Carson Goatley (1-11)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
Next weekend, UNA welcomes Austin Peay to Florence for a three-game series set for May 3-4. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. and Sunday's senior day finale is set for 1 p.m. After that is the ASUN Championship in Oxford, Ala. set for May 7-11.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
