BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 11, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team lost their midweek matchup game against the Samford Bulldogs at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham, Ala. 10-3. Freshman Left-handed pitcher Reese Young pitched three scoreless innings where he faced 11 batters allowing one hit and earned one strikeout. 

Jonathan Lane led off for the Lions to begin the game. He earned a walk before Nash Rippen pushed him to second as he grounded to first base. A Petey Craska single to centerfield helped Lane score at the plate to grab the early lead. 

Young let his defense work through his time on the mound. Two ground outs and a fielder's choice ended the first inning for Samford. His second inning notched his fifth strikeout on the year and added a ground out and pop out to go three up and three down. Two fly-outs and ground out finished his time on the rubber.

As Landon Scruggs subbed in for Young on the mound, the Lions held a 1-0 lead. Scruggs earned a first batter strikeout. The next batter singled through the left side and then advanced to second on a wild pitch then moved to third on a throwing error by Wes Walker. A Samford singled scored the runner, tying the game 1-1. 

For the next two innings, it was all Samford. After another lead-off strikeout for Scruggs, the next three batters helped load the bases, before Carson Howard stepped in. A fielder's choice scored another Bulldog while a single up the middle scored two more, adding three runs for the inning. 

The sixth inning saw a single to right field to start the Bulldogs before the runner stole second and then made his way to third by way of a balk. A walk and a runner stolen base left two runners in scoring position. As Hunter Bell toed the mound in place of Howard, the first batter was hit, loading the bases. A single up the left side scored one and kept the bases loaded. 

Another single up the left side again, scored one more and kept the bases loaded. The next hitter homered, clearing the bases which marked a six-run inning. 

A pair of Leighton Jenkins and Bryant Loving walks turned into two runs as the Samford pitcher threw a couple of wild pitches to allow them to advance. The final score tallied 10-3. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Quinn Petty made his season debut in the bottom of the seventh. He struck out two batters in eight faced, allowing only one hit during his two innings. 
 

Pitchers of Record
W – Mason Blasche (1-0)
L –  Landon Scruggs (0-2)
S – N/A

COMING UP NEXT

The Lions play in Birmingham at Young Memorial Field on Friday, March 14 hosting the Central Arkansas Bears for their ASUN conference opening weekend. 

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