NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 4, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team fell to the Belmont Bruins in a midweek matchup in Nashville, Tenn. 5-4, at E.S. Rose Park. The Lions are now 3-8 on the year, Dylan Morrill had six strikeouts in 20 batters faced.

A quiet first inning from both squads led into a burst of a second inning. Sophomore third baseman Bryant Loving smoked a homerun over left field for the first run of the game. The Bruins answered mightily in the bottom go the second.

A single, walk and a hit batter led to a full diamond. However, after starting against Auburn and Tennessee, Young pitched his first strikeout of his young career. A double from a Bruin wiped the bases clean to make it a 3-1 Belmont lead. The defense cleaned up a ground and line out. 

The Lions thought the top of the third was a great time to tie the game. Designated hitter Ryker Billingsley got hit by a pitch then catcher Matthew Delgado singled to third. After a Petey Craska walk, the bases were loaded. Alex Wade then walked, giving a free run to UNA. Then an RJ Sherwood walk scored another to tie the game. 

In the bottom of the third and fourth innings, Young threw three more strikeouts to keep the Bruins from taking another lead. 

Alex Wilson doubled to left field in the fifth. An error helped Wade reach first on the next at-bat. After a passed ball, both sat on second and third, in prime position to score. Sherwood stepped up with a single to third, which grabbed an RBI as Wilson crossed the plate for the 4-3 lead. 

Dylan Morrill stepped to the mound after the first out in the bottom of the fifth. He struck the next two of three to end the inning. 

Then, it all grew quiet. The Lions clung to the one run lead until the ninth inning. In the top of the seventh, eighth and ninth UNA put runners in scoring position but could not extend the lead. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Morrill struck out the leadoff batter. He walked the next. The next batter grounded out to Craska at first, leaving the tying run on second with two outs. 

The next batter was hit, allowing a second Bruin on base. A throwing error from the North Alabama defense led to bases loaded. Another hit Bruin pushed the tying runner to score before Morrill struck out the final batter of the inning to head to extras.

As Sherwood was placed on second to start the inning, he advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, a line out and two strikeouts for the Lion offense led to a scoreless inning.

Left-handed pitcher Gavin Oswald subbed in for Morrill in the top of the 10th. After intentionally walking the first Bruin, the next fouled out on a bunt to Delgado. However, the Bruins pulled through with a single to center field to secure the win 5-4. 

North Alabama beat out the Bruins in hits with nine to just their four. UNA also had three two-out RBIs during the game. The pitchers for the Lions managed a strike percentage of 61 on just 152 pitches between the three. 

Young earned his first strikeouts of the season and amassed four.  Morrill with six and only allowed one run in his four innings of work. Delgado went 3-for-5 at the plate where he scored one run. Sherwood had two RBIs.

Pitchers of Record
W – Trey Maeker (1-1)
L –  Gavin Oswald (0-1)
S – N/A

COMING UP NEXT

The Lions head to Baton Rouge, La. to play a weekend series against the No. 1 LSU Tigers in Alex Box Stadium starting Friday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m.

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