MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (April 8, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team won their first midweek game of the season against Middle Tennessee State, 5-2. Freshman lefty Reese Young went five total innings and earned his first win as he threw seven strikeouts for the day.
 
The Lions (10-20, 6-6 ASUN) pitching crew held the Blue Raiders to their third lowest batting average in a game this season at .152; this was also their second lowest run total of the year. North Alabama threw three pitchers and boasted 13 strikeouts, tied for the best this season.
 
Middle Tennessee (15-17, 2-7 CUSA) had Ethan Imbimbo come in during the second inning and 5.2 innings with 13 strikeouts but allowed one run during his time on the mound.
 
The Lions stole three bags, their second most total of the season. The offense hit .294, best for sixth on the season.
 
Captain Jonathan Lane recorded a three-hit day, tied for the most in a game this season. He also nabbed two of the three stolen bags tying himself for the most in a game this season.
 
Petey Craska earned his first start at third this season and added a .500 when at the plate. Matthew Delgado hit from the designated hitter spot and also earned a .500 afternoon.
 
Charlie Cochran got his first start at catcher this season while Wes Walker started at first for his inaugural start as well. Craska, Delgado, Walker and Lane all earned an RBI for the game.
 
The Lions started true freshman Reese Young on the mound as he went five innings to earn the win with a personal season high of seven strikeouts. His previous best was five against Central Arkansas on March 16. Young is now fifth on the team with 19 this year.
 
Justin Battle, the Murfreesboro, Tenn. native, threw for his second appearance this season against his hometown squad for two innings where he earned two strikeouts in 10 batters.
 
Gavin Oswald closed out the game for the final two innings with four strikeouts in eight batters to earn his second save of the season. He struck out two looking and two swinging.
UNA came out throwing as Young earned two strikeouts in seven pitches to open the first.
 
The Lion offense matched the defense as Alex Wilson led off with a single to left field in the bottom of the inning. Craska walked, his ninth in the last five games. Delgado lasered one up the middle for an RBI and the lead.
 
Wes Walker sent a shot back to the pitcher who handled it but threw across his body for the throwing error that reached everyone safely while Craska scored. Nash Rippen then walked to load the bases.
 
Lane singled to left center as the two outfielders could not get to it which scored Delgado. A Blue Raider wild pitch scored Walker to give North Alabama a 4-0 lead.
 
Young continued his tear, only allowing one hit through his five innings of work which came in the first. He struck out at least one batter in each inning he was on the mound.
 
The Lions did not strike again until the top of the fourth when Leighton Jenkins walked to open the inning. Craska then doubled hard into right center which scored Jenkins to lift the lead, 5-0.
 
After this, it was a battle of the defenses until the Blue Raiders added two runs in the bottom of the seventh as a double gave some life. Bryant Loving made a diving lay put catch as he filled in at third base.
 
Oswald shut the door at the top of the ninth, striking out the first two Blue Raiders and then the last one grounded out to third for the Lions first midweek win of the season.
 
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Reese Young (1-1)
L –  Jonny Stevens (3-1)
S – Gavin Oswald (2)
 
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama is in the midst of a five-game stretch in four days. The Lions head to Birmingham, Ala. where they play host to the Belmont Bruins at Rickwood Field starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9.
 
North Alabama vs. Belmont – Rickwood Field
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Live Stats
 
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS: Before their first meeting, Belmont had a 1-10 record. Now they sit at 14-20 with a 4-5 OVC record with a two-game winning streak. Daniel Pete leads the way offensively with a .375 batting average, 45 hits on the year and 10 doubles. They have eight games this season with 10 or more runs, all wins. The .121 batting average from the first game is the fifth lowest for the Bruins this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This is the 23rd all-time meeting between these two squads. The Lions are 13-9 since 1984 and 2-7 in the Division I era. This will be the second game between the two this season with the first game going to Belmont in extra innings 5-4. The last time that they won in this matchup came in 2020 with a 1-0 win in Florence, Ala.
 
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