MOBILE, Ala. (February 17, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team earned its first win of the season on Saturday with a 13-7 victory over Southern Indiana in Mobile, Ala. The Screaming Eagles would grab an early 3-0 edge before the Lions battled back to earn a convincing win in game two of the South Alabama Invitational.
Southern Indiana would load with a barrage of singles and walks in the bottom half of the first inning. The Screaming Eagles opened the scoring courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Lane Crowden. Just two batters later, Cameron Boyd would be hit by a pitch with the bases full to drive in a second. USI would add one more to the lead with a John Thompson-Allen RBI single in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 3-0 after three full innings.
The Lions would step to the plate in the top of the fourth and string together six hits, including a Dominick McIntyre RBI single and a two-run double from Alex Wilson, along with a walk to take a 4-3 lead.
The scoring would not stop there as the Lions loaded the bases in the fifth inning, where a Jonathan Lane walk and a Gehrig Frei bases-clearing double would tack on four more to bring the UNA lead to five. USI would add two runs on a pair of hits in the bottom half to make the score 8-5 after five full innings.
Carson Howard entered the game in the third inning for starting pitcher Jacob Bradshaw and would finish his day in the 5th after 2.1 innings with three hits, no walks and the win.
Wilson and Lane would each pick up another RBI in the sixth inning with a single and a walk, respectively, followed by a Kyle Machado sacrifice fly, extending the Lion lead back to five. Anna Maria transfer Anthony Pingeton would enter the game in relief of Howard and pitch four innings, allowing just four hits, one walk and one earned run to earn his first save at North Alabama.
The Lions would add two more runs to the scorecard with an RBI fielder's choice by McIntyre and a Jackson Ferrigno score on a wild pitch. USI would score two more in the eighth to close the final score out at 13-7.
Ferrigno slugged a double and earned a walk, extending his reached base streak from last season to 29 games — just two shy of tying Luke Harper for the Division I program record of 31.
Pitchers of Record
W – Carson Howard (1-0)
L – Gavin Wilson (0-1)
S – Anthony Pingeton (1)
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up opening weekend with an 11 a.m. first pitch against Lamar at Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
