Box Score CONWAY, Ark. (May 15, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team won in Conway, Ark. for the first time in program history, defeating Central Arkansas 8-7. 

With the win, the Lions lock up the Atlantic Sun Conference Gold Division third seed for the ASUN Tournament that begins Tuesday, May 20. The third seed gets the opportunity to play the Graphite Division's two seed at 9 a.m. that day, according to conference officials.  

The Lions (21-29, 14-14 ASUN) had 12 hits that created eight runs. UNA added four doubles from four different batters on the day.  

The Bears (19-31, 12-16 ASUN) had nine hits while adding two home runs for the game. However, a costly throwing error awarded the Lions a run in the top of the third.  

North Alabama hit .324 the night game while being led by Jayden Sloan's three-hit performance and Petey Craka's three RBI game. Craska added his fourth home run of the season.  

Eight of the nine starting Lions recorded a hit for the game while also eight of the starting nine recorded a run. Alongside Sloan, Leighton Jenkins and Alex Wilson recorded a multi-hit performance.  

Jenkins and Bryant Loving both added two RBIs for the game. 

The ASUN's ninth place stolen bag leader, Jonathan Lane, added one more to his total for his 16th on the year.  

North Alabama threw three pitchers for this one with Tripp Patterson starting for the Friday night game. He went five innings and saw 21 batters while allowing only five hits. He earned his fourth win of the season.  

John Allen Stogner worked an inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Freshman Luke Davenport earned his third save this season as he closed the final three innings punching out two Bears during that time frame.  

The Bears started early in this one. A single, stolen base, hit batter and double scored two for UCA in the bottom of the first for the quick 2-0 lead. 

However, UNA answered right back in the second.  

A two-out double from Wilson got a run going. The ball carried all the way to the right field wall that hit the top as the Bear lost it in the air to get it rolling.  

Loving walked to put two on. Jenkins, one of the heroes of the first series, had a base clearing double to tie the game. 

The Lions were not done yet. Sloan singled to center field to put the runners on the corners. Craska then boomed his fourth home run of the year to bring an end to the five run inning and to take the 5-2 lead. 

UCA elected to swap pitchers in the top of the third after a double from Rippen to open the inning.  

Billingsley hit one back to the pitcher that pump faked to third but thought he had Rippen so he threw. The third baseman could not contain it as it was overthrown. Rippen scored and Billingsley moved to second.  

A single from Wilson put runners on the corners. Loving chopped one down first base line which scored Billinsgleu for the 7-4 lead. 

The game turned to the defensive side holding two scoreless frames. 

Stogner stepped in for Patterson in the top of the sixth. A two shot home run brought the Bears within one. Stogner then struck out the next two.  

Davenport toed the rubber in the seventh and threw a scoreless frame.  

The eighth inning saw an even slate.  

Central Arkansas brought in their relief pitcher to close. Lane singled through the left side. He stole his 16th bag of the season quickly after. A Loving single allowed Lane to to score to make it 8-6. 

However, a triple opened it for the Bears in the bottom of the inning. The ball drifted down the right field line that landed out of reach from the streaking Lane and Wilson. A sacrifice fly scored the runner to pull back within one, 8-7.  

The Lions had Craska walk in the top of the ninth. Delgado put one at second base as the field was shifted to go through the right side.  

However, two strikeouts and a tagged third base bag ended the Lions' hopes to add some insurance.  

Davenport struck out the first batter in the top of the ninth. Two fly outs later and the Lions won their first game in Conway in school history, 8-7.  

Pitchers of Record 
W – Tripp Patterson (4-6) 
L –  Jacob Pannell (3-2) 
S – Luke Davenport (3) 

COMING UP NEXT 
North Alabama plays game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the opportunity to win their seventh series of the season. The game was originally set for 6 p.m. but weather moved the game up. 

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