LAKELAND, Fla. — North Alabama’s baseball team found the going a little tougher in its second series of the season Friday night than it did earlier in the week when it routed LeMyoyne-Owen.

Playing on the road against an improving Florida Southern team, the Lions dropped a 6-1 decision ahead of today’s doubleheader.

The Lions (2-1) managed only five hits after pounding out 44 in their opening doubleheader victory. Chad Boughner took the loss, struggling in the first two innings before settling down. He left trailing 3-1 before Florida Southern added three insurance runs in the sixth inning.

“I think it was a case of Florida Southern having played more games and getting some things cleaned up and us having only played two games and still trying to figure some things out,” UNA coach Mike Keehn said. “Defensively we played well but we didn’t have a good approach at the plate.”

The Mocs (2-7) jumped in front 2-0 in the first on two hits, two hit batters and a walk. Conor Szczerba then hit a solo homer in the second to make it 3-0.

North Alabama got its run in the third with a two-out rally. Thomas Lundborg walked and Josh Doyle followed with a single. Eric Wilson drove in the run with a single, but FSC starter Clay Chapman struckout Bradley Noland with runners at second and third to end the threat.

Boughner (0-1) went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking four and striking out eight. Jacob Westerhouse came on in the sixth and lasted just one out, giving up three runs on three hits. Brantley Claunch pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and Drew Mobley pitched a scoreless eighth.

Chapman got the win for FSC, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on five hits.

Keehn said Boughner pitched well after finding his groove.

“He struggled some in the first couple of innings but then he mosed them down,” Keehn said. “Their guy was pretty good. He thew strikes and had some sink. They just outplayed us.”

Wilson had two of UNA’s hits and was robbed of two other hits on nice defensive plays by the Mocs.

The series concludes with a doubleheader beginning at noon today.