JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University softball team fell to the University of North Alabama, the reigning NCAA Division II national champions, in a three-game GSC series. The Lady Bulldogs fall to 23-24 on the season and 7-20 in league play while UNA improved to 27-14 and 17-10 in league play.
 
Union and North Alabama had a back-and-forth game in the first game of the Saturday double-header. UNA took the early lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single to lead 1-0. Union responded in the bottom of the second as the Lady Bulldogs picked up four runs. The Lions walked Union batters in the inning and hit one batter to get North Alabama into trouble. Emily Boone, pinch running for Haley Barnette, scored the first run on Parker Davis's RBI groundout. Ashley Scott walked with bases loaded to pick up the RBI. Hailey Cummings would then score on a wild pitch for the Lady Bulldogs third run. Gabby Morris came to the plate and drilled a single through the right side to score the fourth run of the inning for Union and get them the 4-1 lead.
 
North Alabama got within one of the Lady Bulldogs in the third inning. The Lions scored two unearned as they took advantage of a Union error. A single and a sacrifice fly cut the Lady Bulldog lead to 4-3. Union did not score in the bottom half of the inning. UNA would come into the fourth inning and score three more runs to take a 6-4 lead. Union cut the lead in the bottom half of the inning, 6-5, as Morris earned a bases loaded walk to pick up the RBI.
 
In the fifth inning, neither team scored to move to the sixth inning with North Alabama leading 6-5. The Lady Bulldog defense shut down the Lions offence in the top of the sixth. Union offence would come alive in the bottom half of the inning as the Lady Bulldogs pushed across three runs all with two outs. Morris got the rally going as she singled and Molly McKelvy, pinch running for Scott, moved to third. McKelvy would then score on a wild pitch to tie the game, 6-6. Haley Barnette reached on a single and moved Morris to third. Paige Robertson would then send a shot to the right center fence to pick up a two RBI double and give Union an 8-6 lead heading into the seventh inning.
 
The Lady Bulldogs were unable to fend off the North Alabama bats as they scored three runs in the top of the second. Union was unable to respond to fall 9-8 in the first game of the three game series. Morris led the Lady Bulldogs going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Paige Robertson also picked up two RBIs while going 1-for-2.  Morris also took the loss on the mound giving up nine runs, four earned, on 11 hits.
 
The second game of the double-header went in the favor of North Alabama. The Lions picked up their first run in the top of the second on a RBI single. UNA's Shelby Woodard sent a shot over the left field fence to put North Alabama on top 4-0 in the third inning. Another homer by the Lions in the fifth inning extended their lead to 5-0. Union tried to put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Morris hit a three-run bomb to left field, but the rally fell short as Union fell 5-3.
 
At the plate, Union was led by Morris again with three RBIs. Bennett and LaDesha Nelson each tallied two hits in the game. Davis took the loss, going seven innings giving up five runs, two earned on eight hits. UNA's Shelby Woodard led the way at the plate going 3-or-3 with three RBIs. Hannah Bodenhorn got the win in the circle giving up three runs on eight hits.
 
Sunday's single game was all North Alabama. UNA went on top in the second inning putting up a five spot. The Lions extended their lead in the third as they picked up another run on a wild pitch. The Lady Bulldogs plated two runs in the bottom half of the third. Bennett flew out to the left fielder to score LaDesha Nelson. Taylor Griffith would then score on a throwing error by the UNA pitcher to then trail North Alabama, 6-2.
 
The Lions would put up five more runs over the next three innings to lead Union 11-2 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning. Union pushed across a run in the sixth on Picken's sacrifice fly to centerfield, but it was not enough as the Lions took the mercy rule win, 11-3.
 
Barnette led Union going 2-for-2 at the plate with one walk. Bennett and Pickens had one RBI each in the game. Morris took the loss going two innings giving up six runs on seven hits. North Alabama was led by Sydney Sanders with three RBIs on the day while going 2-for-3 and walking twice. Raven Cole earned the win for the Lions going six innings giving up three runs, two earned, on just five hits.
 
Union will travel to the University of Alabama in Huntsville for a three-game GSC series starting Saturday, April 22 for a double header at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday will be a single game at 1 p.m.
 
-UNION-