Southern Miss Welcomes the Lions from the Shoals
College baseball weekends in Hattiesburg rarely lack intrigue, and this one brings a program from one of the most culturally rich corners of the South. The North Alabama Lions baseball team travels down from Florence, Alabama to face Southern Miss in a non-conference matchup that pits an established national contender against a rising program looking to prove it belongs on the Division I stage.
The Lions come from the Shoals region along the Tennessee River, an area better known nationally for legendary recording studios like Muscle Shoals Sound and FAME Studios than for baseball. But in recent years North Alabama baseball has steadily built a competitive program that can challenge bigger schools when given the opportunity.
For Southern Miss fans seeing the Lions for the first time, here is a deeper look at the North Alabama roster, players to watch, coaching background, and program history.
The 2026 Lions: Players to Watch and Early Season Stats
North Alabama enters the weekend series against Southern Miss with a 7–6 record in the early part of the 2026 season as the Lions continue their development as a Division I program in the Atlantic Sun Conference under head coach Jad Prachniak.
The Lions have already faced several strong opponents this season, including a competitive 8–5 loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, a game where North Alabama pitchers struck out 12 Rebel hitters, showing the staff has the ability to compete against high-level lineups.
The Lions opened the year with a series sweep of SIUE at their new home park, Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium, giving Florence its first taste of full-time Division I baseball in the brand-new facility.
Players to watch
Dylan Coleman has been the clear headliner of the early season. Through 13 games, Coleman is hitting .347 with 17 hits, 15 RBIs, 6 home runs, 3 doubles, and 2 triples. He has been North Alabama’s most dangerous bat so far and already looks like the kind of hitter Southern Miss fans will notice right away.
Nash Rippen has also been one of the Lions’ best offensive pieces. In 13 games, he is batting .310 with 13 hits, 9 RBIs, and 4 home runs. He has scored 11 runs and brings some thump behind Coleman in the order.
Petey Craska has been another steady contributor. Through 13 games, Craska is hitting .256 with 11 hits, 7 RBIs, 2 home runs, and 11 runs scored. He also has 11 walks, which shows he has been a big part of getting traffic on base.
Will Millard has been productive in limited games and gives the Lions some punch from behind the plate. In 8 games, Millard is batting .296 with 8 hits, 5 RBIs, and 2 home runs. He also owns a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate so far.
The pitching picture
The likely North Alabama weekend story starts with three pitchers who have each made three starts so far.
Luke Davenport looks like the staff ace on paper entering the weekend. In 3 appearances, all starts, he is 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA over 13.0 innings, allowing 9 hits while striking out 17. That strikeout total stands out.
John Allen Stogner has also made 3 starts and owns a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 innings. He has allowed 9 hits and struck out 10. He has been one of the more stable starters in the early going.
Tripp Patterson has made 3 starts as well, though his numbers have been rougher. He is 0-1 with a 9.22 ERA over 13.2 innings, allowing 18 hits and 14 earned runs, though he has still punched out 12.
Out of the bullpen, Gavin Oswald has been one of the better arms. In 5 appearances, he is 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA over 12.2 innings, with 12 strikeouts. Former Southern Miss pitcher Sawyer Toney has a 1.80 ERA in 5 appearances, while Justin Battle owns a 4.00 ERA in 5 outings.
This is a North Alabama team with some real power at the top. Coleman and Rippen can hurt you, Millard adds pop when he is in the lineup, and the Lions already have 19 home runs in 13 games. But they are also a club that can be pitched to, as shown by the 103 strikeouts and the uneven team batting average. On the mound, the Lions can miss bats, but the ERA and walk totals show why Southern Miss will likely try to make them work deep into counts.
For Southern Miss fans, the simple scouting report is this: Coleman is the bat to know, Davenport is the arm to watch, and if North Alabama is going to make this series uncomfortable, it will probably happen with home runs and swing-and-miss stuff.
Head Coach Spotlight: Jad Prachniak
North Alabama head coach Jad Prachniak arrived in Florence with a résumé that spans nearly two decades across Division I and Division II baseball. His coaching career has taken him from the Northeast to the Mid-Atlantic and now the south, before taking the reins of the Lions program in 2023.
For North Alabama, which is still establishing itself as a Division I baseball program after decades of Division II success, Prachniak represents a coach who has already seen what winning programs look like at multiple levels of college baseball.
Prachniak’s journey in college baseball began at the University of Rhode Island, where the Lincoln, RI native played first base and designated hitter for the Rams (2001-04). During his time in Kingston he developed a reputation as a disciplined offensive player who understood situational hitting and the importance of controlling the strike zone.
That offensive mindset would later become part of his coaching philosophy, particularly when working with hitters and developing lineups built around patience and pressure on opposing pitchers.
After graduating, Prachniak immediately moved into coaching, beginning a career that would take him through several successful programs. Prachniak began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach at Rhode Island for one season (2005), where he worked with hitters and helped coordinate recruiting efforts.
From there he moved to William & Mary (2006-11) as a pitching coach, another respected Division I program in the Colonial Athletic Association. At William & Mary he continued building his reputation as a recruiter and offensive coach, helping develop players while learning the day-to-day demands of Division I college baseball.
His head coaching career began in 2012, when he took over the reigns for Division II West Chester University, a baseball powerhouse in the Philadelphia suburbs from 2012-2020. After his time at West Chester, Prachniak returned to Division I baseball as an assistant coach at the University of Delaware (2021-22).
At Delaware he worked primarily with hitters and infielders while continuing to build recruiting connections across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The Blue Hens consistently ranked among the better offensive teams in the Colonial Athletic Association during his tenure.
The stop at Delaware also helped expand his experience at the Division I level, working with scholarship management, player development, and recruiting battles against larger programs.
In 2023, North Alabama hired Prachniak as head coach, giving him his first opportunity to lead a Division I program.
The job in Florence presented a unique challenge. The Lions had long been a dominant Division II program but were still adjusting to the demands of Division I baseball after making the jump in 2019.
Prachniak’s mission has been to stabilize the roster, expand recruiting pipelines across the Southeast, and build a program capable of competing in the ASUN Conference. His record with the Lions heading into the 2026 season is 56-103.
A Proud Baseball History
North Alabama baseball dates back to 1932, and for decades the Lions were one of the most successful programs in Division II baseball.
Highlights from the program’s Division II era include:
- 12 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances
- 1999 Division II College World Series appearance
- Multiple Gulf South Conference championships
The 1999 Lions remain the gold standard in Florence. That team advanced all the way to the national championship game and remains one of the most celebrated squads in program history.
The Mike Lane Legacy
When longtime fans talk about North Alabama baseball, one name still echoes across the Shoals: Mike Lane.
Lane coached the Lions for 25 seasons (1984-2008), compiling more than 900 career wins and building the program into one of the strongest Division II teams in the South. The school’s baseball field was named Mike D. Lane Field in his honor.
The original stadium hosted NCAA regionals and countless memorable moments before eventually being replaced with a new ballpark also named Mike D. Lane Field, which opened in 2026.
Lions Who Reached the Majors
North Alabama may not be a traditional pipeline to Major League Baseball, but the Lions program has produced a handful of players who made it all the way to the big leagues. For a program that spent most of its history at the Division II level, sending players to MLB is a significant achievement and a point of pride for the program in Florence.
Sergio Romo
The most recognizable former Lion is Sergio Romo, one of the most accomplished relief pitchers of his era.
Romo pitched at North Alabama before transferring to Arizona Western College and eventually being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 28th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. He developed into one of the most reliable bullpen arms in baseball during the Giants’ championship run in the early 2010s.
During his Major League career, Romo became famous for his devastating sweeping slider, which he used to strike out some of the biggest hitters in the game. His most iconic moment came in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, when he struck out Miguel Cabrera looking to clinch the championship for the Giants.
Romo went on to win three World Series titles with San Francisco (2010, 2012, 2014) and pitched for more than a decade in the majors with teams including the Giants, Dodgers, Rays, Twins, Marlins, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Athletics. Over his career he recorded 800+ strikeouts and more than 130 saves, making him the most successful professional player with ties to North Alabama baseball.
Josh Willingham
Another notable Lion who reached the majors is Josh Willingham, a powerful outfielder and designated hitter who built a reputation as one of the better power bats in baseball during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Willingham attended North Alabama before transferring to the University of North Carolina, where he became one of the top hitters in the ACC. He was later drafted by the Florida Marlins and made his Major League debut in 2004.
Across his 11-year MLB career, Willingham played for several teams including the Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals. Known for his patience and power at the plate, Willingham hit 144 career home runs and drove in more than 470 RBIs.
His best season came in 2012 with the Minnesota Twins, when he hit 35 home runs and drove in 110 runs, earning American League MVP votes.
Cedric Landrum
Cedric Landrum is another former North Alabama player who reached the Major Leagues.
Landrum played outfield for the Lions before being drafted and eventually making his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1991. He later appeared in games for the New York Mets as well.
While his Major League career was brief, reaching the big leagues is an accomplishment that only a tiny percentage of college baseball players ever achieve. Landrum remains part of the small fraternity of Lions who made it all the way to MLB.
Terry Jones
Pitcher Terry Jones is another former North Alabama player who pitched in the Major Leagues.
Jones appeared in the majors during the late 1980s and early 1990s, pitching for the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs. His professional career included multiple seasons in the minors before reaching the big leagues.
Like Landrum, Jones represents the type of player who helped establish North Alabama’s reputation as a program capable of developing professional talent even during its Division II era.
Ballpark: Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium
For decades, North Alabama baseball called Mike D. Lane Field home. The ballpark was a staple of Lions baseball for more than 40 years and hosted numerous Gulf South Conference games and NCAA Division II regional tournaments during the program’s golden era.
Named after legendary coach Mike Lane, the field became synonymous with North Alabama’s Division II dominance. Lane himself won more than 900 games during his coaching career and built the Lions into one of the most respected programs in the region.
But as North Alabama transitioned to Division I athletics, the university recognized that the program needed a modern facility to match its new ambitions.
That led to the construction of Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium, a brand-new ballpark that opened for the 2026 season as part of a larger athletic complex on campus.
The new stadium represents a major step forward for the Lions program. Located near the university’s new football stadium, the facility features upgraded seating areas, modern locker rooms, enhanced training spaces, and improved fan amenities designed to bring a Division I atmosphere to Florence.
For recruits visiting campus, the stadium signals something important: North Alabama is serious about building a competitive baseball program at the Division I level.
For longtime Lions fans, it’s the next chapter in a baseball tradition that dates back nearly a century.
Series History: The 2022 Meeting at Pete Taylor Park
Southern Miss and North Alabama last met during the opening weekend of the 2022 season, when the Golden Eagles hosted the Lions for a three-game series at Pete Taylor Park. Southern Miss swept the series. 8-1, 7-3, 14-1 For the Sunday matchup that weekend the Golden Eagles Southern Miss handed the ball to Hurston Waldrep, now a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, and the hard-throwing right-hander delivered a breakout performance throwing 5.1 innings.
City & Campus Spotlight: Florence, Alabama
The Real Lions on Campus
North Alabama may have the Lions as a mascot, but unlike most schools, the university actually has real lions living on campus.
The mascots Leo III and Una live in a habitat in the center of campus near the student union. The tradition dates back to 1974, when the university adopted live lions as mascots. On football Saturdays and major campus events, students often gather near the enclosure to see the lions, making it one of the most unique traditions at North Alabama.
The Birthplace of W.C. Handy
Florence proudly claims W.C. Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues,” as one of its most famous native sons.
Handy wrote classics like “St. Louis Blues” and helped popularize blues music across America in the early 20th century. His childhood home in Florence is now the W.C. Handy Home & Museum, one of the cultural landmarks in the Shoals region.
The Shoals Music Scene: Where American Music Found Its Sound
Just a short drive from the University of North Alabama campus sits one of the most influential recording hubs in American music history. The region known as “The Shoals”—which includes Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia—became a global destination for musicians beginning in the 1960s.
At the heart of that movement were two legendary recording facilities: FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.
Founded in 1959 by producer Rick Hall, FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals became one of the most important recording studios in the country. Hall helped develop a distinct Southern soul sound that blended gospel, blues, country, and rhythm and blues. Artists from across the country traveled to the small Alabama town to record there, including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, and Otis Redding.
But the Shoals story didn’t stop there.
In 1969, a group of session musicians known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section—nicknamed “The Swampers”—left FAME Studios and opened their own recording facility called Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield. That small studio quickly became one of the most sought-after recording destinations in the world.
Over the years, artists who recorded in the Shoals included:
- The Rolling Stones
- Bob Dylan
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Paul Simon
- Willie Nelson
- Traffic
- The Allman Brothers Band
The impact of the Shoals music scene was so significant that it was immortalized in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song “Sweet Home Alabama,” which famously references the session musicians with the lyric:
“Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers.”
Today both studios remain important cultural landmarks. FAME Studios is still an active recording studio, while Muscle Shoals Sound Studio has been restored and turned into a museum that celebrates the incredible musical history created within its walls.
A Campus Built on a Former Teachers College
The University of North Alabama began in 1830 as LaGrange College, making it one of the oldest colleges in Alabama.
After the Civil War, the institution evolved into Florence State Teachers College, producing thousands of teachers across the state before eventually becoming the University of North Alabama in 1974.
Today the campus sits on a hill overlooking downtown Florence and the Tennessee River.
The Tennessee River plays a major role in the identity of Florence.
Just minutes from campus sits Wilson Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the Southeast. Built during World War I, the dam helped power the industrial growth of northern Alabama and remains one of the most scenic spots in the region.
Locals often fish, kayak, and boat along the river, and it’s a popular hangout for students during warm spring afternoons.
For visitors to Florence, including baseball teams traveling in to play North Alabama, the Shoals represent something special: a small Southern region whose influence on American music rivals Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans.
It’s a reminder that in this part of Alabama, legendary things have a way of happening in unexpected places.
A Hidden Sports History
While football is usually the sport most associated with North Alabama, the Lions have quietly produced successful teams across several sports.
Highlights include:
• Three Division II football national championships
• Multiple Gulf South Conference titles across sports
• A strong men’s and women’s basketball tradition
• Baseball’s 1999 Division II national runner-up finish
The athletic department has been steadily upgrading facilities as the university establishes itself at the Division I level.
A Classic Southern College Town
Florence feels like a classic Southern college town.
Downtown is filled with:
• brick streets
• historic buildings
• small music venues
• local restaurants
The city is part of a four-city area known collectively as The Shoals, which includes Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia.
Despite having only about 40,000 residents, the region punches far above its weight culturally thanks to its music heritage and the presence of the university.
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