Coming into the championship series, the Lions knew they would have to defeat conference foe UAH twice in order to keep their season alive.

The Lions won game one 7-0 behind a complete game shut out from junior pitcher Raven Cole. UNA used the momentum from that win to propel them to another 7-0 victory in game two and advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Junior pitcher Hillary Carpenter recorded her third complete game shutout of the tournament in the game two victory.

“I feel like I’m back to my old self,” Carpenter said. “It felt good to go back to normal and go out there and throw my best game.”

After losing to UAH previously in the tournament, the Lions were looking to avenge their first home loss since February 20.

Both Carpenter and Cole stepped up when the team needed them the most, said head coach Ashley Cozart.

“We have the best pitching staff in the country,” Cozart said. “I just can’t say enough about what Hillary and Raven did today.”

With the pressures of the season possibly ending, the goal for the day was to stay loose and relaxed, Cozart said.

“We tend to get tight when we aren’t successful,” she said. “I wanted to make the statement that I was loose and I was ready and I wanted that to trickle down.”

GSC Player of the Year Brooklynn Clark had six hits in the series to lead the Lions.

Senior outfielder Peyton DeLong hit two home runs in the tournament and really set the tone for the Lions, Cozart said.

“Peyton is a prime example of hard work and dedication,” she said. “She had some huge hits and it is so nice to have a lineup that from top to bottom can contribute like that at any time.”

UNA advances to play Rollins College in a best of three series on May 11-12 at the UNA Softball Complex.