OXFORD, Ala. (May 7, 2024) – Back-to-back RBI hits by Sidney Bevis and Hailey Jones in the fifth inning sent the University of North Alabama softball team to the next round of the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, as the fifth-seeded Lions ousted No. 8 Austin Peay with a 3-0 win on Tuesday in Oxford, Ala.
UNA survives and advances to the double elimination round of the ASUN tournament and will face No. 4 seed Florida Gulf Coast University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Austin Peay is eliminated and ends the season with a 23-29 record. UNA improves to 35-17.
While Bevis and Jones had the breakthrough hits that ignited the sizable group of fans in purple, it was junior ace Alivia Wilken that made the moment possible. The first team all-conference pitcher tossed her ninth shutout of the season, going all 7.0 innings with five hits scattered, but no walks or strikeouts. She ranks among the top three players in the nation in shutouts.
Behind Wilken was a flawless UNA defense that did not commit any errors for the 28th time this season. UNA ranks among the top 15 teams with a .976 fielding percentage.
Austin Peay made it a pitcher's duel early behind reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week Jordan Benefiel, who had a quality start in her own right. Although Benefiel limited the UNA bats for two wins in last weekend's series, the Lions were able to do enough the third time around.
UNA did its damage on four hits, three of which came in the fifth inning. Up until that point, Bevis had UNA's only hit with a first inning single.
The fifth inning started with momentum for North Alabama, as the Lions stranded two Austin Peay runners in the top half. UNA used that momentum at the plate, as McKenzie Patterson was hit by a pitch to start the frame. A single by Raegan Clem put two aboard.
After a fielder's choice put two outs on the board, UNA found its mojo. Bevis had the go-ahead RBI with a single up the middle, scoring pinch runner Sydney Harris. In the next at-bat, Jones — a third-team all-conference selection — cleared the bases with a double to right-center, making it 3-0.
In the seventh inning with two outs, Bevis ended the game with a catch at the warning track. The senior tracked back to the wall and fell against the fence as she caught the final out.
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (18-7)
L – Jordan Benefiel (12-14)
S – None
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will play tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. against No. 4 FGCU. With a win, UNA would move along in the winner's bracket to play No. 1 EKU on Thursday. The losing team will move to the elimination bracket and play either Queens, Central Arkansas or North Florida on Thursday afternoon.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
