FLORENCE, Ala. (May 12, 2024) – After coming back from a 4-0 deficit, the University of North Alabama baseball team ended the final game at Mike D. Lane Field in a 13 inning 4-4 draw against North Florida on Sunday. The game also served as UNA's senior day, honoring 10 senior members of the team. 

 

The Lions move to 17-32-1 on the season, while North Florida exits the series with a 21-26-1 record. The Lions move to 9-17-1 in ASUN Conference play with just three conference contests remaining on the season. UNF is now 11-14-1.

 

The home finale marks the first tie in a UNA baseball game since North Alabama found itself in a 5-5 draw with Auburn University of Montgomery back in 2013 at Mike D. Lane Field. This also marks just the sixth tie at "The Mike" since 1984.

 

North Florida opened up the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning before adding on one run in both the third and fourth innings to take a 4-0 advantage over North Alabama. 

 

After UNA starting pitcher Anthony Pingeton exited the contest in the fourth inning, Dane Sykes and Brycen Parrish combined for 9.2 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits while striking out five. Parrish also pitched on Friday and notched 9.0 scoreless innings across two relief appearances. 

 

The North Alabama offense sat dormant for the first six innings of the game, picking up just a single hit courtesy of freshman Bryant Loving in the bottom of the third inning. 

 

The Lions finally broke through in the seventh inning, cutting the UNF lead in half with a home run and a sacrifice fly. After being honored for senior day, Andin Johnson launched a no-doubt home run over the left field fence, igniting a North Alabama rally. 

 

Three consecutive singles left Jonathan Lane at the plate with the bases loaded and just one out. Lane sent a fly ball to left field, just deep enough to bring home Dominick McIntyre from third base. 

 

A scoreless eighth inning sent UNA to the plate down to the final three outs at Mike D. Lane Field with North Florida holding a two-run advantage. McIntyre led off the frame with a double down the left field line before Bryant Loving reached on an infield single. Leighton Jenkins scored McIntyre on a sacrifice bunt to the first baseman, advancing Loving to second. 

 

North Florida made a pitching change prior to facing Lane, who singled through the right side of the infield to leave runners at the corners with one out. Gehrig Frei brought home Loving to score on a sac fly, evening the score at 4-4. The Ospreys chose to intentionally walk Kyle Machado before ending the threat with a flyout.

 

UNF picked up a two-out single in the top of the tenth inning, which would serve as the final hit of the game. Both pitchers combined to allow zero runs and zero hits across the final three and a half innings. 

 

With construction on a new playing surface to begin this summer as part of the Bank Independent Stadium project, today's game marks the final game to be played at Mike D. Lane Field. The new baseball facility is set to open for the 2025 baseball season. The new stadium will be in the same location as the current park but will have a new design.

 

Prior to the game UNA held a senior day ceremony, honoring 10 senior members of the North Alabama baseball team. Kyle Machado, Jacob James, Levi Jensen, Dominick McIntyre, Andrew Knight, Jacob Bradshaw, Cal Cook, Dane Sykes, Evan Kingma and Andin Johnson were among those honored. 

 

W - None

L – None

S – None

 

 

North Alabama travels to Starkville, Miss. to take on Mississippi State on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. before heading to Clarksville, Tenn. to square up with Austin Peay in the final series of the season on May 16-18. 

 

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