DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Nash Rippen drove in four runs with a home run and two doubles, leading North Alabama to a 6-5 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday evening at Melching Field at Conrad Park in an ASUN conference game.

The Lions improved to 31-27 overall while the Eagles fell to 36-22.

Rippen, playing left field, went 3 for 4 with his 18th home run of the season and a pair of run-scoring doubles. He entered the game in a 1-for-13 slump over his previous three contests. Right fielder Wes Walker added his 15th home run, a two-run shot. Designated hitter Dylan Coleman collected four hits in five at-bats, including a triple.

Florida Gulf Coast struck first. In the bottom of the first inning, the Eagles loaded the bases on a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a single. A bases-loaded walk to Jacob Comer forced in the first run, and Nick Gagnon followed with a two-run double down the left-field line, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

North Alabama responded in the top of the third. Wes Walker reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jacob Kangas, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Rippen’s RBI double to right-center. Walker then crushed a two-run homer to deep center field, scoring Rippen, and the Lions took a 3-3 tie.

The Lions added a run in the fifth. Coleman singled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Rippen’s second double of the game, a drive down the right-field line.

North Alabama extended its lead in the seventh. Coleman tripled to center field and Rippen followed with a two-run home run to deep center, making the score 6-3.

Florida Gulf Coast starter Sebastian Lippman allowed six hits and three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, striking out four. Jordan Vera, Ashton Pocol and others worked in relief for the Eagles.

North Alabama starter John Allen Stogner pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on no hits with two strikeouts. Kelly Crumpton threw three innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on no hits with two strikeouts. Justin Battle and Josh Bowerman also appeared.

The Eagles mounted a comeback in the seventh. Gorostola singled, Nelson reached on a fielding error, and Comer singled through the right side to drive in Nelson, cutting the lead to 6-4.

In the bottom of the ninth, Gorostola doubled to right-center and scored on Ian Gonzalez’s double to left-center, making it 6-5. Bowerman relieved Crumpton and induced a line-drive double play to left fielder Rippen, who threw to second to double off pinch runner Seidel and end the game.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Florida Gulf Coast with a 73.40 percent probability to win.