FLORENCE, Ala. – Although it outhit its opposition on the night, the University of West Alabama baseball team fell in the series opener to No. 17 North Alabama on Friday night. The 7-5 setback drops UWA to 18-18 (4-11 Gulf South Conference) while the Lions improve to 32-10 (10-4) GSC.

West Alabama pounded out 12 hits compared to UNA's seven on the evening, and the bottom third of the UWA order was particularly impressive as it amassed five of the team's hits in the game.

The Lions struck first with a four-run first inning, including a three-run bomb off the bat of Jared Mothershed, but the lead would not remain that large for long as UWA starter Jeb Huber (5-3) retired the hosts in order in the second before the Tigers scored three in their half of the third.

Tyler Shaw led the inning off with a single and was knocked in on a two-bagger from Jay Jennings. Keeping things going, Ladarrius Cole singled to drive in Jennings, and the visitors pulled to within one when Kevin Deese plated Cole.

Quickly snatching the momentum back, the Lions tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third to make the score 6-3 in their favor.

Undaunted, the Red and White responded with a pair of runs in the fourth as the bottom of the lineup again produced. Clint Brown led the inning off with a single and was followed by Shaw who picked up his second base knock of the night. Another single from Cole scored Brown, and Brian Simone picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to pull UWA to within one again at 6-5.

In their half of the sixth, the Tigers appeared to tie the game when Cole sent a long fly into center that Mothershed failed to catch on a leaping effort at the wall. West Alabama argued that the ball left the field of play, but it was instead ruled to have been kept in the confines of the park, clipping the top of the fence and falling back into center field for a double.

Cole would be stranded there, and the UWA offense never really threatened again as the Lions added on an insurance run in the seventh and Trey Mitchell (10-2) settled down nicely to earn the complete game victory.

The speedy leadoff batter finished the evening with three hits while knocking in two and scoring once, and Cole also picked up his 17th stolen base of the season to remain perfect on the base paths.

Deon Williams, Shaw and Jennings each recorded a pair of hits, and Shaw led the way by crossing the plate twice.

Huber uncharacteristically had trouble finding the zone on the night as he walked five batters while striking out four. He gave up the seven hits and seven runs, but only six were earned as the Tiger defense committed a pair of miscues in the game. His counterpart Mitchell struck out six Tigers while walking just one.

Brian Burgess tossed the final 1.2 innings, keeping UWA in the game by not allowing the Lions to record a hit.

Despite the barrage of hits, there were some flashes of defensive brilliance. Both teams saw their trip to the plate in the fifth end prematurely on nice double plays. The Tigers turned the unconventional 5-6-3 to end the UNA half of the inning as Colin McKeen fielded a ground ball, took a long look at Mothershed who was on base at second, and then tossed over to first for the second out of the inning.

Alertly, Deese noticed that Mothershed had proceeded to break towards third, and the UWA first baseman threw retired the Lion base runner with a throw back across the diamond where Shaw was smartly covering the bag.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.