Box Score MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) opened the 2016 season with a 3-2 non-conference home loss in eight innings to the University of North Alabama (UNA) Lions at Murray Field on Thursday afternoon.

The Lions (5-0) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 8th inning when a single by catcher Carmen Whitfield got past Badger left fielder senior Taylor Lahasky and brought in third baseman Harlie Barkley from 1st base with one out. Two innings later, Lion designated player Anna Gayle Norris put a ball into the parking beyond left field for a solo home run and making it a 2-0 UNA lead.

Spring Hill answered back in the bottom of the 6th inning with a leadoff double down the left field line by sophomore shortstop Carmen Byrd. Byrd moved to 3rd two batters later off a single by freshman catcher Kali Clement. Clement alertly moved to 2nd base off a pop out to shortstop when UNA got careless on the infield and Byrd would scamper home off a passed ball to make it 2-1. Clement tied the game just one pitch later when a wild pitch by relief pitch Raven Cole (4-0) reached the backstop.

In the 8th inning, UNA scored a run when Barkley mashed a double to deep left that plated shortstop Reagan Tittle from 3rd base with two outs. Spring Hill also put the tying run at third base with one out in the bottom of the frame, but a pop out to short and swinging strikeout closed the door on the Badgers.

Cole picked up the win in relief of Hillary Carpenter who lasted 5.1 innings with four hits allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. Cole had 2.2 innings of work with a walk and four strikeouts.

Senior Caroline Sagrera (0-1) went the distance for SHC with seven hits, four walks and seven strikeouts.

At the plate, UNA centerfielder Courtney Shields had two hits while North was 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk.

Spring Hill (0-1) will next host the NCAA Division II Gulf Coast Invitational (GCI) at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex this weekend with the Badgers opening play against Flagler College (3-3) on Friday at 4:30 p.m.