FLORENCE, Ala. (March 1, 2025) – North Alabama Softball finished off a series sweep against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in exciting fashion on Saturday at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium, winning by 4-0 and 8-7 finals.
 
With a win in the opener, UNA head coach Ashley Cozart recorded her 400th career victory with the program. Cozart is in her 12th season at UNA, owning a 400-178-1 record since taking the reigns in 2014. For her career, she has a record of 591-224-1, including four seasons at Lindsey Wilson from 2010-13.
 
Junior pitcher Katie Simon pitched her third complete game shutout of the season, as the Lions won 4-0 in the opener. Senior infielder Hailey Jones was the hero in the finale, hitting a walkoff triple in the 11th inning of an 8-7 come-from-behind victory. This completed the four-game sweep for UNA and extended a five-game win streak.
 
The Lions improve to 15-3 this season, while Oakland dips to 4-7.
 

Game 1 — North Alabama 4, Oakland 0
 
North Alabama scored all four of its runs in two-out situations while completing the fifth shutout of the season for a 4-0 win in the Saturday opener.
 
Katie Simon was brilliant in the circle, as the Athens native recorded her third shutout. However, this was the first of the three to go beyond five innings with the opponent avoiding the mercy rule. She tossed 7.0 innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts. She allowed just one walk and four hits in the win.
 
Simon opened the game by striking out the side, then went on to punch out seven of the first nine batters in three innings. Meanwhile, the UNA offense faced Oakland's ace, Alyssa Balcom. The Lions did enough to get the job done, tacking on a pair of runs in the third and sixth innings.
 
A two out infield single by senior Hailey Jones kept the third inning alive. She later moved up on a wild pitch and teammate Laura Leigh Wheeler walked her way on. Both came around to score, as Jorja Roberson singled in Jones and Bayleigh Rouse doubled down the right field line to bring in Wheeler.
 
After Simon stranded one in the sixth to maintain the shutout, catcher Natalie Shaw drew a walk and Dover also reached with two outs. This brought up Jones for a two-run double to make it 4-0. Simon closed it out with a three-up, three-down inning.
 
After the game, Cozart was surprised by players and coaches with a quick on-field celebration.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Katie Simon (4-0)
L –  Alyssa Balcom (2-2)
S – None
 

Game 2 — North Alabama 6, Oakland 5 (9)
 
Oakland was one out away from salvaging the four-game series, but a dropped ball on a fielder's choice out at second allowed the Lions to tie the game and force extra innings. From there, the game went 11 innings and UNA won on a walk-off triple by trusty senior Hailey Jones.
 
The Golden Grizzlies struck first, walking the bases loaded and getting one home. A sac fly made it 2-0. The Lions responded with an RBI single from Dover and an RBI triple by Jones to make it 2-2.
 
Oakland had its big breakthrough moment in the fourth inning, taking a 5-2 lead with an RBI single followed by a homer from Kayla Turmell. However, UNA chipped away with a couple of baserunning successes, as Dover and Wheeler stole home on separate occasions with runners on the corners. The game stayed 5-4 until the final out of the seventh, as Roberson put the ball in play. A light toss from short to second was bobbled, keeping the game alive.
 
The game continued into the 11th, as Oakland took the lead on an RBI single by Storm Kentros. Down 7-5, UNA got a leadoff single from pinch hitter Emma Kate Wright. Hammons snuck on with a fielder's choice, where an indecision by the fielder allowed Wright to move up. Dover worked a solid at bat and walked the bases loaded.
 
Enter Hailey Jones.
 
With the bases loaded, nobody out and the winning run on first, Jones swung at the second pitch and landed it in the left-center gap. Hammons and Dover were on each others heels, as Dover was going all the way. The relay throw was off the mark and the pair touched home back-to-back to end the game.
 
Jones and Dover combined for seven hits, including a pair of triples for the former. Both teams combined for 24 hits with 13 from UNA and 11 from Oakland. Both totals rank as the second-highest in a game for each side this season.
 
Kaylee Snyder got the start and pitched an inning, while Alivia Wilken worked three more. Emily Simon came on in the tight game situation and went on to pitch a full seven for her fifth win of the season. Balcom closed for Oakland after pitching the first game, going seven as well in a valiant effort.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Emily Simon (5-2)
L – Alyssa Balcom (2-3)
S – None
 

COMING UP NEXT
 
UNA will welcome Samford, ULM and Detroit Mercy next week for the UNA Invitational. The tournament will run from March 7-9 at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.