The North Alabama baseball team hosted Alabama A&M in non-conference action Feb. 28 and won 12-1.

UNA improved to 10-5 with the victory over their in-state foe.

Lions head coach Mike Kheen said the team’s defense played with the best effort all season, exemplified by a diving catch by junior outfielder Ben Cooley.

“I was pleased with the diving play by Ben, which is a really difficult play,” Keehn said. “I thought Lane Wallace pitched really well, and I really liked the way we bounced back after we were up and kind of in a lull and then they scored a run and we exploded and really put the game away at that point.”

The Lions’ bats also put together a dominant performance, combining for eight hits and seven RBIs.

Junior infielder Logan Carter hit a three-run homerun that Keehn said was the nail in the coffin for the Bulldogs.

“It was an inside, kind of high fastball and as soon as I swung it felt really good off the bat and, I was praying that it was going to leave the fence,” Carter said. “I was in a 3-2 count, and I was in a protective mode just trying to stay alive up there and just put a good swing on it, and it went out.”

Third basemen Kyle Hubbuch also had a big night at the plate with three hits and two RBIs.

“I’m just trying to hit the ball where it’s pitched, and if they’re not really coming in on me, trying to stay away from me and try to pull the ball then I’m going to hit it that way if that’s what they’re going to give me,” Hubbach said.

The Lions will travel to West Florida March 4-5 for their next Gulf South Conference matchup and then travel to Lemoyne-Owen for a rematch against the Magicians March 8. UNA will be back at Mike Lane Field March 11-12 to face Lee.