FLORENCE, Ala. (February 25, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball lost to Morehead State 13-9 on Sunday at Mike D. Lane field in the series finale. The back-and-forth matchup saw seven lead changes and three ties until the Eagles broke through with a four-run ninth inning. 

The Lions move to 2-5 on the season, while the Eagles improve to 4-3 and win the series 2-1.

The Lions entered the eighth inning down two runs before a pair of hits and walks cut the lead to one. Morehead State closer Will Grimmett entered the game with the bases loaded where Kyle Machado earned a hit by pitch to bring home the tying run. 

The Eagles used back to back home runs from Hayden Robbins and Ryley Preece to take the lead into the home half of the ninth, where Grimmett would escape a jam with the victory.

Kevin Henrich began the day on the bump for UNA and wrapped up a quick two innings, allowing just two baserunners and notching three strikeouts. 

The UNA bats woke up early as Andrew Knight left the yard for a two-run home run in the second inning. Morehead State had a response with a Colton Becker RBI single and a two-run home run of their own from Roman Kuntz. 

Jonathan Lane tabbed his first of three extra base hits on the game in the third with a double to right center field. Kyle Machado would add two more to the UNA score, bringing home Lane on a two-run home run to left field. 

The teams traded blows a few more times as Morehead State scored three in the fourth while the Lions responded with a solo homer from Lane and a single from Gehrig Frei, who scored from first on a double from Machado.

Caleb Menina entered the game for Henrich in the fourth and pitched a clean fifth inning, putting UNA in a spot to take the lead on an Andin Johnson sacrifice fly — just one batter removed from a leadoff double by Andrew Knight.

The Eagles responded yet again with a two-run double from Kuntz to make the MSU lead 8-7. The two offenses stalled until the top of the eighth where Morehead State would tack on another run via an Isaias Guzman double. 

The Lions took to bat in the eighth and tied the game off the Morehead State bullpen, but the Eagles rallied yet again for a pair of homers in the top half of the ninth to make it 13-9. UNA looked to respond, getting two quick baserunners on a pair of errors with nobody out and a four-run deficit, but a hard-hit lineout and a double play ended the threat.


Pitchers of Record
W – Will Grimmett (1-0)
L – Justus Agosto (0-1)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions travel to Murray, Ky. for a midweek matchup with Murray State on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.