North Alabama softball edged Lipscomb 4-3 on Apr 6th at Hilda B. Anderson Stadium, winning the series 2-1 and earning a key ASUN Conference victory.
After a weekend full of momentum swings, high pressure moments, and standout performances, the UNA softball team closed out their three game series against Lipscomb with a clutch 4-3 win on Apr 6th. Playing in front of their home crowd in Florence and live on ESPN+, the Lions battled hard to secure a crucial series victory in ASUN Conference play.
Coming into the game, both teams had something to prove. UNA opened the series on Apr 4th with a commanding 7-1 win, fueled by sharp pitching and timely hits. However, in Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader, the Lions saw a late lead slip away, as Lipscomb stormed back in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 win and even the series. That set the stage for a true rubber match on Saturday.
With both squads entering the day tied 1-1 in the series, the atmosphere was tense and electric. Fans filled the bleachers with purple and gold, eager to see if the Lions could respond to the Bisons’ Friday comeback and finish the weekend strong. The game started with tight defense on both sides. UNA’s starting pitcher, Alivia Wilken (#25), kept Lipscomb quiet through the first two innings, forcing groundouts and managing contact well. Meanwhile, Lipscomb’s starter matched the effort, holding the Lions scoreless early on.
In the top of the third, Lipscomb broke through first with a solo home run that just cleared the left field wall, putting the Bisons up 1-0. The crowd quieted momentarily, but the Lions didn’t stay down for long.
In the bottom of the fourth, UNA’s offense came alive. After a lead off single and a well placed bunt moved the runner into scoring position, Hailey Jones (#4) stepped into the batter’s box. With two outs and a 1-1 count, Jones crushed a two run home run over the center field wall, flipping the lead in UNA’s favor and energizing the home crowd. The dugout erupted as Jones rounded the bases and slapped hands with teammates at home plate.
UNA wasn’t done. A pair of singles and aggressive baserunning in the fifth inning allowed the Lions to tack on two more runs, stretching the lead to 4-1. The Lions’ dugout was fired up, and fans could feel the shift in momentum, but Lipscomb wasn’t ready to back down.
In the top of the seventh, the Bisons made one last push. With two runners on and two outs, Lipscomb’s cleanup hitter drilled a ball into the right center gap. The double cleared the bases and suddenly made it a one run game. The pressure was on.
With the tying run on second and the crowd on its feet, UNA’s pitcher dug deep. After falling behind in the count, she battled back and got the final batter to pop out in foul territory near third base, sealing the 4-3 victory and giving the Lions the series win. It was a gritty and emotional finish to a hard fought weekend. Jones led the offense with her clutch homer, while the Lions’ pitching staff limited a potent Lipscomb lineup to just three runs despite late pressure. UNA improved to 25-13 overall and 5-7 in ASUN play, taking a solid step forward in the conference standings.
Lipscomb fell to 19-19 overall and 6-6 in the ASUN, and will now regroup before their next series. Next up, the Lions head to Clarksville to take on Austin Peay in another important conference matchup beginning Apr 12th. With momentum on their side, UNA will look to keep climbing the standings and push for postseason contention.
