KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (February 24, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team has their second midweek matchup of the season against their second SEC opponent, the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers. This game will start at 3:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast, while live video will be available via SEC Network+.
North Alabama at #4 Tennessee
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
3:30 p.m.
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THE RUNDOWN: North Alabama recently competed against the Saint Louis Billikens in a weekend series in Pearl, Miss. Due to inclement weather and Bank Independent Stadium construction, the game was moved to Trustmark Park, home of the Mud Monsters of the Frontier League. The Lions split the series as the final game was canceled due to rain. The Lions lost 5-0 in the first game and then turned around to win 8-1 in game two. UNA is now 3-3 on the year heading into its big-time matchup with Tennessee.
SERIES HISTORY: This is the first ever meeting for the Lions and Volunteers. This marks the third opponent this season that is a first-time matchup for North Alabama.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS: This one is easy. The Volunteers are the reigning NCAA National Champions and have started the 2025 season much of the same way. They are 7-0 to begin the season, run-ruling in five of their season games thus far. In its previous matchup against Samford, Tennessee won all three by scores of 5-1, 7-3 and 11-1. The Friday and Saturday games are the closest the Vols have played all season. In their first four games of the season, the Volunteers scored 13 or more runs in each game with 29 runs coming in their UNC-Asheville win. They hold one shutout, four games to one run, and no one has exceeded five runs against the Volunteers.
TRANSFERS MATTER: New transfer players have been a big portion of the team this season. Six transfers have found time at the plate this season while five more have graced the mound. Four have been consistent parts of the lineup such as catcher
Matthew Delgado, left fielder
Nash Rippen, center fielder
Alex Wade and first baseman
Petey Craska. The four starters have combined for 18 hits, 10 RBIs and three home runs this season. Craska and Delgado share the team high of 10 putouts for North Alabama this season between the Auburn and Saint Louis games.
FRESH ON THE BLOCK: Head Coach Jad Prachniak brought in a slew of freshman this past off-season and has not been shy about using them. Left-hander
Tripp Patterson already has two starts under his belt in Saturday day games where he now holds a 1-0 record as well as a team-high seven strikeouts in his previous contest. Catcher and designated hitter
Wes Walker is known for his big bat and has been plugged into the heart of the batting order since game one. Others such as
Luke Davenport and
Reese Young have seen action on the mound and provided substantial pitching.
ROAD WARRIORS: North Alabama is in the process of building Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium, which is currently scheduled to be ready in April. The Lions will play on the road and at neutral site venues until then. For more information,
click here.
A SLATE OF CHAMPIONS: During the 2025 season, the Lions play three of the four previous NCAA National Champions. North Alabama competes against LSU, Tennessee and Mississippi State on the road while also adding in an SEC road game against Auburn and a neutral site game against Alabama.
UP NEXT: UNA will continue its travel as the Lions head to Birmingham, Ala. to play UAB from Feb. 28 – March 2. The Friday night game will begin at 2 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
