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FLORENCE, Ala. (February 16, 2026) – The University of North Alabama baseball team hosts in-state opponent UAB and 2025 College World Series finalist Murray State this Tuesday and Wednesday at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium.

Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast. The UAB game will be streamed on ESPN+ with “Voice of the Lions” Benjamin Ray and his broadcast partner Douglas Hargett on commentary. The Murray State game will not be streamed due to scheduling conflicts.

North Alabama vs. UAB

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

3:00 p.m.

Live Stats | ESPN+

North Alabama vs. Murray State

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

3:00 p.m.

Live Stats


NOTES

THE RUNDOWN: The University of North Alabama baseball team hosted SIUE for the grand opening of Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium with a series win, 2-1 as the Lions swept the doubleheader on Friday. SIUE was the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference. The Lions took home a 3-1, 8-1 pair of victories over the Cougars, as Petey Craska hit a three-run shot in game two for the series to erase a four-inning scoreless drought. Luke Davenport threw a career high eight strikeouts in the second victory to silence the OVC favorites. The attendance for the weekend series was over 3,000 fans for the three games. 

SERIES HISTORY UAB: This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Lions are 3-7 all-time against the Blazers with their most recent win coming in 2024 — 9-8 in Florence. This series dates all the way back to 1979 with the most recent meeting being in Birmingham last season.

SERIES HISTORY MURRAY STATE: This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Lions are 1-10 all-time against the Racers with their most recent win coming in 2022 — 6-4 in Florence. This series dates all the way back to 1957 with the most recent meeting being in Florence last season.

SCOUTING THE BLAZERS: The American Athletic Conference announced UAB as their 10th best team in the preseason polls heading into the 2026 season. However, UAB opened with a stunner of a game as they went to Gainesville, Fla. and took down No. 13 Florida with a 9-7 win in 10 innings of play. The Blazers dropped the next two to lose the series before coming to Florence.  

SCOUTING THE RACERS: Murray State earned a series win, just like North Alabama this past weekend, as the Racers beat Ohio on the road while scoring 37-runs over the three games. Murray State opened as the Missouri Valley Conference favorite and placed a league-high nine players on the MVC preseason watch list. Last season, Murray State finished 44-17, won the Oxford Regional and advanced past Duke in the Durham Super Regional to make the College World Series.

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS: The Lions opened the season with SIUE at home in their brand-new stadium. During the three-game stretch, which saw a Friday twin bill and a single game Saturday, North Alabama saw attendance numbers of 1,000, 750 and 1,350, respectively.

NEW NUMBER, SAME DUKE: Sophomore right-handed pitcher Luke Davenport got his second career start against SIUE on Friday evening. He went five innings against the OVC favorites to snag the win while throwing a career high eight strikeouts and a 61 percent strikeout rate. The Cougars only had one hit during the time Davenport was on the rubber. 

THINGS TO KNOW: For more things to know on the opening of Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium, click here.

UP NEXT: After the two midweek games against UAB and Murray State, the Lions host Saint Louis for a weekend series at Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium on Friday, Feb. 20. This will wrap up an eight-game home stand to open the season.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.