FLORENCE, Ala. (February 28, 2025) – North Alabama Softball is marching into the new month with massive momentum, closing the book on February with a pair of 9-1 wins against Oakland to open a four-game series on Friday at the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex.
 
The Lions (13-3) cruised in both games, ending each one with a walk-off in the fifth inning. The first win was highlighted by a four-run fifth inning that ended on a walk-off home run by sophomore Bayleigh Rouse. Later, UNA erupted for eight runs in the second inning to propel the nightcap.
 
Junior pitcher Emily Simon picked up the win in the opener, as the Athens native made her Florence debut with no earned runs allowed. Senior ace Alivia Wilken started the second game, but with a large lead in hand, she handed the ball to true freshman Kaylee Snyder. Snyder closed things out with two scoreless innings and picked up her first career win.
 
Senior infielder Hailey Jones had her impressive hitting streak end at 13 games today, as she homered in the opener. However, she reached on a walk in the second game to continue a 14-game on-base streak.
 
The UNA offense recorded 17 hits while limiting Oakland (4-5) to just seven.
 

Game 1 — North Alabama 9, Oakland 1 (5)
 
Oakland appeared to be the stronger team in the first inning, retiring three of UNA's top bats in order while reaching three in the first two offensive innings. However, UNA put the kibosh on that idea with four runs in the second frame.
 
Junior Laura Leigh Wheeler, who hit at least one home run in every fall game, hit her second of the spring with a deep shot to center field. Fellow junior Jorja Roberson copy-and-pasted the same hit Wheeler had, sending another over for a 2-0 lead. A fielding error continued the inning with two outs, allowing junior catcher Natalie Shaw to double home Emma Kate Wright. Shaw later scored on another error to make it 4-0.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Jones powered one into deep right field for a leadoff homer. This was the first of the season for Jones and the 15th of her four-year career.
 
Simon twirled a shutout until the top of the fifth. After a strikeout, Oakland forced a throw from the catcher, which went errant and allowed an unearned run. A groundout ended the threat in the next at-bat.
 
Back-to-back singles from junior Gyvan Hammons and sophomore Briley Dover started a four-run rally for the Lions with hopes of a mercy rule win. Wheeler aided this effort with a deep triple to score both runners. With Wheeler on and Rouse at the plate, the Wallace State transfers ended the game with a walk-off homer.
 
Simon finished 5.0 innings with just one unearned run allowed on four hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Offensively, the four home runs by Wheeler, Roberson, Jones and Rouse matches the team's season high. Wheeler led the attack with a 2-for-3 day. The offense also handed Oakland starter Kenna Bommaritio her first loss of the season.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Emily Simon (4-2)
L –  Kenna Bommarito (2-1)
S – None
 

Game 2 — North Alabama 9, Oakland 1 (5)
 
Different game. Same result.
 
The journey to a 9-1 win in the nightcap was slightly different for UNA, as Oakland struck first with a run before the Lions erupted for eight runs in the second inning. A sacrifice fly from two-way player Alyssa Balcom put the Golden Grizzlies ahead early in the opening frame.
 
Enter Wilken — the dominant ace.
 
Outside of two singles, Wilken did not allow any more hits after the run, keeping her team in the driver's seat after the second inning. Snyder took the ball and closed with two shutout innings. Three of her six outs were strikeouts. Oakland was unable to muster a hit off Snyder.
 
The second inning explosion for UNA started with a dropped fly ball in left field. This snowballed into an RBI double from Rouse to bring home Wheeler unearned, then a two-RBI double by Hammons — giving her multiple RBIs for the first time this season as a leadoff hitter. Dover also landed one off the glove of a ranging right fielder for a two-RBI triple, scoring Hammons and Shaw to make it 6-1. An error allowed another to cross, then Wheeler, who started the inning with the leadoff error, doubled to score Jones and make it 8-1.
 
Rouse and Roberson stirred anticipation from the crowd with back-to-back singles in the fifth, putting two on. This allowed Wright to ground one to second to drive home the final run.
UNA had nine hits, including multi-hit games from Rouse and senior Ryleigh Boyett. Jones and junior pinch runner Katie Davis each swiped a base.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Kaylee Snyder (1-0)
L – Mia Konyvka (0-1)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The series continues with a doubleheader tomorrow at 12 p.m.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.