FLORENCE, Ala. – Following a quick start in Saturday's opener, the University of Evansville softball team dropped two contests to North Alabama to open its final non-conference weekend.
 
Game 1 – UNA 5, UE 3
 
North Alabama scored in each of the final four innings to rally from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Purple Aces by a 5-3 final in Saturday's opener.
 
Brooke Voss posted the first hit of the day in the top of the first before the Aces jumped on the board with a single run in the second. Morgan Adams led off with a double with Dori Brown coming in to pinch run. That brought Niki Bode to the plate and she sent the first pitch into right center field for a double to bring in Brown.
 
Emma McDonald opened the top of the third with a double to left center and crossed the plate on an infield single by Taylor Howe to extend the lead to 2-0. The Lions got on the board in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly followed by a Bayleigh Rouse solo home run to tie the game at 2-2. North Alabama added its third run of the game in the fourth.
 
With one out in the top of the fifth, Voss tied the game with a solo home run to right center. UNA pounced back with solo runs in the fifth and sixth to retake the advantage. UE was unable to get a baserunner in the final two frames as the Lions clinched the 5-3 win.
 
Howe and Voss each went 2-3 in the game to account for four of UE's eight hits. Kate Ridgway made the start and allowed five runs in six innings of work.
 
Game 2 – UNA 8, UE 0 (5 innings)
 
Following a scoreless 2 ½ innings, the Lions scored eight runs in the next three frames to complete the day with an 8-0 victory in five innings. Lion starting pitcher Katie Simon tossed a no-hitter in the game as UE had two baserunners.
 
North Alabama opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Briley Dover hit a 3-run home run to left field to put the Lions on top as they scored four in the inning. In the fifth, they clinched the victory with four more runs to take the 8-0 triumph.
 
Tomorrow, UE looks to take the third game of the series, which is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.