RICHMOND, Ky. (March 28, 2025) – The University of North Alabama softball team opened a three-game series with Eastern Kentucky on Friday, handing the Colonels their first loss in Atlantic Sun Conference play with a doubleheader split in Richmond, Ky.
With a win in the opener, UNA head coach
Ashley Cozart earned her 600th career victory. She is in her 16th season as a head coach, including 12 at UNA and four at NAIA Lindsey Wilson. Over 400 of her wins have come with the Lions. Cozart has yet to have a losing season in her career.
Today snapped an 18-game home winning streak for EKU. The last team to defeat EKU at home? North Alabama on March 30, 2024.
Both games ended in 2-1 finals, as the Lions (23-11, 3-5 ASUN) scored two runs in the final frame to win the opener. EKU (23-9, 6-1) evened the series in the nightcap, though UNA scored one in the final inning and got the go-ahead run to the plate.
Both games included quality starts in the circle, as the trio of
Katie Simon,
Alivia Wilken and
Kaylee Snyder allowed just three runs over the two games. EKU had similar outings with just three runs allowed by three pitchers. However, UNA out-hit EKU 11-6 in the two games.
Another key factor in the win was sound defense, as the Lions did not commit any errors on Friday. UNA has an 8-3 record when flawless in the field this year. Notable plays from
Bayleigh Rouse,
Briley Dover and
Katie Davis — among others — aided the effort.
Game 1 — North Alabama 2, Eastern Kentucky 1
The series opener was an entertaining pitcher's duel between UNA's
Katie Simon and EKU's Maddi Rutan. EKU broke through with a sac fly in the fifth inning, but the Lions got the last laugh with back-to-back RBI doubles from
Caroline Cartron and
Emma Kate Wright to win 2-1.
Though Simon did most of the work for UNA, true freshman
Kaylee Snyder finished the job with 1.2 scoreless innings. Snyder improves to a 2-0 record and has not allowed a hit or a run over her last three appearances, spanning 3.1 innings.
Simon allowed just one run and two hits over 5.1 innings, navigating six walks to finish with five strikeouts.
With no score in the fifth, the Colonels got a leadoff double from designated player Lilly Davis and used flex Jordan Smith as a pinch runner. Smith moved to third on a flyout, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Makayla Mathis. This was the only run for EKU, as Simon got the final out.
UNA went down in order in the sixth, but recovered in the seventh with a one-out single from sophomore infielder
Bayleigh Rouse. A deep flyout from
Ryleigh Boyett recorded the second out, but Rouse moved into scoring position. Down to UNA's final out, Cartron ripped the game-tying double over the left fielder.
Enter
Emma Kate Wright.
The power-hitting sophomore was subbed in as a pinch hitter. She skied one into the left-center gap and brought in Cartron for the go-ahead run to make it 2-1. Snyder retired the side in order, ending the game herself with a groundout to the pitcher.
The Lions tripled EKU's hit total with six hits on the day, including two-hit days from Cartron and senior
Hailey Jones. Cartron, who has swung a hot bat as a pinch-hitting option recently, made her first start in the UNA lineup this season. She is 6-for-10 over the last six games, including 2-for-3 in game one.
Pitchers of Record
W –
Kaylee Snyder (2-0)
L – Maddi Rutan (10-6)
S – None
Game 2 — Eastern Kentucky 2, North Alabama 1
Another pitcher's duel ensued in the nightcap, pitting UNA's Wilken against EKU's Victoria Byrum. Neither pitcher finished the game, but both team's relievers kept it tight. The Colonels prevailed 2-1 to even the series.
Down 2-0 in the seventh, senior
Ryleigh Boyett took one deep to left-center for her second homer of the year. This was the first home run allowed by EKU's Lauren Narvaez in 20 innings this season. Junior outfielder
Katie Davis also reached on a hard-hit ball to third, but EKU forced a groundout to end it.
EKU broke up Wilken's no-hit bid with an RBI single from Mathis in the fifth inning. Avenging her game one loss in the circle, Rutan homered in the sixth for the second EKU run. Wilken allowed just two runs in 5.0 innings, while Snyder pitched a scoreless and hitless sixth.
Despite the loss, UNA outhit EKU in both games, including 5-4 in the nightcap. Cartron had another two-hit game, while Boyett, Wheeler and Davis had one each.
Pitchers of Record
W – Victoria Byrum (8-1)
L –
Alivia Wilken (8-6)
S – Lauren Narvaez (2)
COMING UP NEXT
The rubber match is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.