CONWAY, Ark. (May 15, 2025) – With seeding implications on the line for next week's Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, the University of North Alabama baseball team heads to Conway, Ark. for the final series of the regular season against Central Arkansas starting Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m.
  
Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast, while live video will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
North Alabama at Central Arkansas
Thursday, May 15, 2025
6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+

North Alabama at Central Arkansas
Friday, May 16, 2025
6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+

North Alabama at Central Arkansas
Saturday, May 17, 2025
1:00 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+
NOTES
  
THE RUNDOWN: The University of North Alabama baseball team took two of three from Eastern Kentucky this past weekend, winning 6-4 in the opener and 6-2 in the Saturday clincher, which due to rain did not start until 9 p.m. and went past midnight. In that win, UNA locked up a spot in the ASUN Championship for the first time in program history. However, the Colonels salvaged the series on Sunday with a tight 3-2 win. Senior Anthony Pingeton threw a complete game with 11 strikeouts in the game two win; that was the most strikeouts by a UNA pitcher this season. This gave North Alabama their sixth series win of the season.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 27th all-time meeting between the two programs dating back to 1982. Since then, UNA is 12-14 in this matchup, going 9-2 before the Division I transition. North Alabama added two more wins against the Bears since transition to Division I this season. Before 2025, the Lions had just one win over Central Arkansas which came in 2022 in Florence, Ala. UNA is 0-7 in this series when playing away and looks for their first win in Conway in school history.
SCOUTING THE BEARS: The Bears are now 19-30 on the season, a 14-win improvement since the two last met in Birmingham in March. Central Arkansas is 12-15 to sit fourth in the ASUN Gold Division and has clinched a spot in the ASUN postseason, like North Alabama. The Bears last played Memphis on Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn. where they fell 11-8. UCA last played Austin Peay in a weekend series where they snatched one game, 11-7 in Clarksville. This is their first home ASUN series since they played Bellarmine on April 25. 

WALK-OFF HEROICS: Head coach Jad Prachniak has only had one walk-off game winner during his tenure at North Alabama, until the Central Arkansas series earlier this season. On Friday, March 14, the Lions tied the Bears and went into a 10th inning. A single from Leighton Jenkins and a Zak Majer walk put two on base. A sac bunt moved the runners and an intentional walk put Matthew Delgado on first, which loaded the bases. Redshirt freshman Petey Craska fouled off the first before seeing two balls and then fouled off another. His fifth pitch saw it streak over the centerfielders head to score the winning run. In the second game of a doubleheader, Alex Wade doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the 10th inning. Jenkins stepped in with an out and the game on the line. He saw a first pitch ball, then he swung at the next two. As the fourth pitch came scorching, Jenkins swung again but this time sending it flying over the center fielders head for another walk-off win making two in the same weekend.

SEASON OF FIRSTS: North Alabama has a season of firsts for many programs within the athletic department — and baseball adds to the list. This season, the Lions accomplished 20 wins for the first time in the Division I era. During those 20 wins, 13 came in the ASUN conference which is also the most in a DI season for UNA. The cherry on top? Clinching the team's first appearance at the ASUN Championships in DeLand, Fla.
CRASKA COUPLES: Redshirt freshman first baseman Petey Craska is batting .347 with 58 hits to lead the UNA offense. Craska has 17 doubles this season, which is one away from tying the Division I single-season record set by Andrew Knight in 2023. The last player to double 20 or more times in a single season at UNA was Dylan Boston in 2015 with 21 doubles. Craska's 17 doubles is fourth best in the ASUN Conference. 

CEMENTED: Captain and second baseman Jonathan Lane earned his 206th career hit on Sunday, May 4 against Lipscomb. He put a heater on the shortstop and beat out the throw for the single. With that hit, he passed the great former MLB standout Josh Willingham for fourth all-time in the history books in career hits. After his 200th hit, he joined UNA Hall of Famers James Barksdale (261), Douglas Hargett (243) and Willingham (205), as well as 2018 graduate Kyle Hubbach (215). He currently sits at 210 career hits. 

HOW IT PLAYS: The ASUN moved to two divisions this past season, meaning teams will only play within the division during the regular season. During post season, each division matches up with the other in the first round, including top seeds against four seeds and two seeds against three seeds. Currently listed, the Lions are in a tie for third with Central Arkansas. If the pace keeps up, they will place for third place to end the season and the rights to play Graphite two-seed, who is currently slated as Jacksonville. The fourth seed will matchup with Graphite leader Stetson.

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