HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (February 21, 2025) – North Alabama saw its impressive nine-game win streak draw to a close on Friday, but ended the day on the right side of the win column as the Lions fell 4-0 to Ole Miss at Toyota Field before defeating ETSU by a 6-3 final in Huntsville.
 
Entering Friday, UNA was one of 10 teams in Division I softball to remain undefeated through nine games. The Lions are now 10-1 entering tomorrow's games against Auburn and Misssissippi State. Auburn also suffered its first loss today, falling to 11-1.
 
The Rebels improve to 9-3, while the Bucs fall to 3-6.
 
The Lions got solid pitching from twins Emily Simon and Katie Simon in the opener, while Alivia Wilken tossed over 100 pitches for a quality start in the ETSU win.
 
UNA had nine hits over the two days, including multi-hit days from Gyvan Hammons and Briley Dover at the top of the lineup against the Bucs.
 
These games were part of the Rocket City Softball Showcase, which is hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission and Rocket City Trash Pandas with games at Toyota Field, UAH Charger Park and Huntsville High School.

 
Game 1 — Ole Miss 2, North Alabama 0

UNA started the day at Toyota Field against Ole Miss, taking the SEC foe to the wire.
 
Junior pitcher Emily Simon, getting the start near her hometown of Athens, went toe-to-toe with one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation in Ole Miss ace Miali Guachino. Guachino, the No. 9 player in Extra Inning Softball's Elite Top 100.
 
The two sides combined for just seven hits, but the Rebels did enough for a 4-0 win.
 
The game went scoreless into the fourth inning, as Simon and Guachino were virtually untouchable despite a pair of walks by Simon in the second frame. Senior Hailey Jones had the first hit of the game in the top of the fourth with a single, but was stranded on base. Ole Miss responded with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom half.
A pair of singles made it a 3-0 game for Ole Miss in the fifth, resulting in the first earned run against Simon. Her twin sister, Katie, entered for the final two innings and allowed just one run on a single, but that same single resulted in an out at second as third baseman Bayleigh Rouse hosed a greedy runner.
 
Junior Jorja Roberson had a one-out double in the seventh as the Lions looked to rally, but Guachino forced a pair of infield flyouts to end the game.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Miali Guachino (5-3)
L –  Emily Simon (3-1)
S – None
 

Game 2 —North Alabama 6, ETSU 3

Senior ace Alivia Wilken threw 10 strikeouts and never lost the lead, as the Lion offense had an answer for every ETSU rally in a 6-3 win at Huntsville High School.
 
The 10 punchouts are the second most of Wilken's UNA career behind her 15 strikeout performance at Queens last season. The New Market, Ala. native allowed just two earned runs on six hits with just two walks.
 
The Bucs also had a solid start from sophomore Gabrielle Fowler, as both teams were scoreless with two hits over the first three innings. However, the Lions forced Fowler into trouble by loading the bases in the fourth. After a pitching change, Bayleigh Rouse grounded home a run and Hailey Jones scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
 
ETSU answered with a pair of doubles in the fifth to make it 2-1, but Jones added insurance for UNA in the bottom half with an RBI single to score Kylei Russell. UNA once again loaded the bases in this half inning, as ETSU elected to make another circle change.
 
Up 3-2 in the sixth, UNA blew the game open with a three-run home run from sophomore Briley Dover. The Loretto native has four homers this season. ETSU stayed alive with a two-out RBI single, but all-conference player Cameron Young fell victim to a Wilken strikeout to end it.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Alivia Wilken (5-0)
L –  Gabrielle Fowler (0-1)
S – None
 

COMING UP NEXT

The Lions are back at Toyota Field for two games, beginning tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. against Auburn. Later that evening, UNA will close the showcase against Mississippi State at 5:30 p.m.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.