FLORENCE, Ala. (April 17, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team played at the new-look Mike D. Lane Field for the first time on Thursday, falling to the Bellarmine Knights 15-5 in eight innings to open a three-game series.

The Knights used a seven-run second inning to fuel themselves to a win.  

The Lions (13-22, 8-8 ASUN) hit .364 with two outs and 5-for-8 when it came to lead off batters. Four of North Alabama's five runs came in the first two innings.  

Bellarmine (10-27, 6-10 ASUN) hit .359 for the day and went 20-for-31 in advancement opportunities to score double digit runs. Four Knights had two or more hits for the afternoon.  

Wes Walker and Nash Rippen both completed a two-hit day, while Matthew Delgado and Jonathan Lane both acquire a pair of RBIs. Delgado, Walker, Rippen, Bryant Loving and Leighton Jenkins each cross the plate once for the Lions. Lane had the first RBI at the new facility.

Brycen Parrish got the start on the mound for the 'soft-opening' of Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium. He went two innings with two strikeouts as Dylan Morrill stepped in at the top of the third. Morrill went four innings before Justin Battle closed out the game. 

The Lions struck first in this one as Delgado walked with two outs. Wes Walker lined one through the right side of the infield that reached to the right fielder. Rippen then walked to load the bases. 

A single up the middle from captain Jonathan Lane scored two for the quick lead. 

The Knights answered back in the top of the second as two of the first three batters walked. Bellarmine used four hits and an error to score seven runs in the inning for the 7-2 lead. 

Loving singled to left field and Jenkins walked to put two runners on. A bunt from the top of the lineup, Alex Wilson, moved runners into scoring position. Delgado finished it off as he doubled into right field to erase some of the deficit.  

The Knights poured on some more for the top of the third as Morrill made his appearance. As Bellarmine loaded the bases, a double into the gap of the outfield wiped it clean to make it 10-4. 

The two teams traded a pair of runs in the fifth inning before Bellarmine added four more in the top of the eighth.


Pitchers of Record 
W – Chase Carver (3-4)  
L –  Brycen Parrish (3-5)  
S – N/A  

COMING UP NEXT  
North Alabama plays game two of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium on Friday, April 18.  

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