FLORENCE, Ala. (February 27, 2024) – The University of North Alabama baseball team fell to Missouri Valley foe Murray State 6-1 on Tuesday in Murray, Ky. The Racers put up six runs in the first three innings to power themselves to victory over UNA.

The Lions move to 2-6 on the season, while the Racers improve to 6-2.

UNA relievers John Allen Stogner, Josh Bowerman, Bryce Richter and David Burton combined for five innings of work, allowing just four hits, one run and notching five strikeouts. The game served as the North Alabama debut for both Stogner and Burton, each of which picked up their first strikeouts as a Lion.

After UNA hit three home runs on Sunday against Morehead State, senior infielder Cal Cook continued the trend with his first career homer in the eighth inning. The Lions now have six home runs over eight games this season.

The Racers struck first, adding four runs in the home half of the first inning from five singles. A pair of grounders through the infield and two infield singles helped spark a rally that put Murray State up 4-0 after one. Murray State added one more in each of the next two innings. A Dustin Mercer home run in the second and an RBI single from Mercer in the third would put the Racers up 6-0.

Andrew Knight found the gap to break up the Murray State perfect game bid in the fifth inning, but the Lions moved to the sixth inning still scoreless. Knight now has four hits in his last eight at bats, including two doubles and a home run. The graduate outfielder from Vestavia Hills is third on the team with 12 total bases so far this season.

The Lions found the scoreboard in the eighth inning on a solo home run from Cook. Cook deposited the 1-2 breaking ball over the left center field fence to cut the Murray State lead to 6-1. The Racers would answer in the eighth with a longball of their own, courtesy of first baseman Parker Estes, making the score 8-1. 

Andin Johnson entered the game to pinch hit in the ninth inning and attempted to spark a comeback with a leadoff single, but a strikeout and a pair of flyouts ended the game. 


Pitchers of Record
W – Ethan Lyke (1-0)
L – Dane Sykes (0-1)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions return home to Mike D. Lane Field this weekend for a marquee three-game set against UAB to open the month of March. The series opens Friday, March 1 at 4 p.m.

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