FLORENCE, Ala. – The Trevecca Nazarene University baseball team (25-16, 14-2 G-MAC) lost 9-8 in a non-conference game at the University of North Alabama (25-20) at Mike Lane Field.

Trevecca returned to action following a week off, and now head back to Great Midwest Athletic Conference play with two key series at Jackson Field over the next two weekends.

Trevecca hosts Alderson Broaddus University (24-15, 13-5 G-MAC) Friday (4 PM) and Saturday (Noon) for a pair of double headers this weekend.

The final conference weekend is May 6-7 when the Trojans host Kentucky Wesleyan College (29-12, 14-2 G-MAC) for a pair of double headers with the same starting times as the ABU series.

Trevecca and KWC are tied for first at 14-2 while ABU sits in third place at 13-5. TNU holds a 7-2 edge in the ABU series all-time, but the Battlers split the four-game series last year. The Purple and White own a 6-3 edge in the series with the Panthers and have taken the last four in the series.

North Alabama holds a 13-4-2 edge in the series since 2002. Trevecca took the first meeting of the year on March 29th by the score of 7-5.

Trevecca jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run top of the first. Tyler Tichenor (SR/Centertown, KY) reached on a one-out walk and Micah Blount (SR/Birmingham, AL) joined him and moved him over a base after reaching on an error. Bryson Shelton (JR/Powell, TN) hit a double to drive both base runners in. Shelton moved to third on a wild pitch then scored on a single by Zach Tompkins (SR/Mt. Juliet, TN).

The Lions answered with a four-run second inning for a 4-3 edge. UNA took a 6-3 lead with a two-run third.

Trevecca cut the lead to one with a run in the fourth and again in the sixth. In the fourth he scored a run on three hits. Tyler Burns (SO/Tullahoma, TN) lead off the inning with single and scored on a Ethan Harrison (FR/Erlanger, KY) single. In the sixth Harrison was in the mix again, scoring after reaching on a two-out single. Tyler Tichenor drove him home with a double.

A three-run UNA sixth gave the home team the eventual winning run and a 9-5 lead.

Trevecca rallied to make it interesting with a two-run seventh. Trevecca's seventh inning runs came after Bryson Shelton doubled to lead off the inning. Zach Tomkings scored Shelton with a double of his own. Chad Sutton (SO/Independence, MO) drove in Tompkins later with a double.

Trevecca made noise with a run in the ninth, but came up a run short. Tyler Burns reached on a single with one gone in the inning. Chad Sutton reached on a UNA error. With two out Ethan Harrison reached on a single that scored Burns. Trevecca went on to load the bases, but could not get the tying or winning run across the plate.

The Trojans had 19 hits and four Trojans had three hits a piece. Ethan Harris was 3-6 with a run scored, two RBI. Tyler Tichenor was 3-5 with a run scored, a RBI, a double, and drew a walk. Zach Tompkins went 3-5 with a run scored, two doubles, and two RBI. Chad Sutton hit 3-5 with a RBI and a double. Bryson Shelton turned in a 2-4 night at the plate and hit two doubles, scored twice, and drove in two runs.

Jesse Peter started and took the loss and now stands 2-3 on the year. He allowed four runs in two innings of work on six hits. Seven more pitchers took an inning each to close out the game. Jake Roberson (FR/Springfield, TN), Ivey Starling (SR/Brentwood, TN), Christian Lohr (SO/Verona, KY), and Ryan Arington (JR/Cincinnati, OH) all turned in a shutout inning each to help keep the Trojans in contact.