Box Score CONWAY, Ark. (May 16, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team took the series with its win over Central Arkansas, 8-4.
The Lions came into this series not having a win in Conway in school history. Now they have two wins, a series victory and after last night, the ASUN Tournament three seed for the Gold Division.
The Lions (22-29, 15-14 ASUN) had 14 hits that created eight runs. This marks the second best game for hits this season, overall they hit .378 for the afternoon game. UNA added three more doubles and eight RBIs for the game.
The Bears (19-32, 12-17 ASUN) were led by Preston Curtis who went 3-for-4 with three runs, two home runs and two RBIs.
The headline for this one is all redshirt freshman
Petey Craska. He hit back-to-back home runs in the game. This is his third home run of the weekend and totals to six for the year. This also is the first multi-home run game for a Lion this season.
Alongside him is
Jayden Sloan who added two more doubles to his total, bringing him to three for the weekend.
Matthew Delgado went a perfect 3-for-3 as he tripled and added one run for the afternoon.
Like last night, eight of the nine starting Lions recorded a hit. The top six in the lineup recorded the eight runs; Sloan and Craska each crossed home twice.
Four pitchers got work this afternoon with the typical Saturday starter
Anthony Pingeton up first. He worked two innings with two strikeouts.
Gavin Oswald recorded his second win of the year as he also got two innings of work.
Justin Battle saw the most action going three innings. He retired all nine batters during that frame without seeing an extra and added two strikeouts.
Dylan Morrill closed the game out with two innings of work and two strikeouts.
The Lions exploded in the first frame in this one.
Sloan doubled to open the first inning. Exploded is the correct word as Craska hit for what they call a 'Big Man's Bomb' in his first at-bat for the early 2-0 lead.
The Bears answered in the bottom of the second with a lead off home run to close the gap. However, Pingeton threw six straight strikes for the back-to-back strike outs. Delgado hosed his first runner of the day at second to end the inning, 2-1.
No, this is not a mistype. Yes, this will feel like deja vú. In his second at-bat, Craska hits his third home run of the week and just the sixth on the year.
UCA tied it up in the bottom of the third as a couple singles and stolen base scored a runner, 3-3.
Then North Alabama turned on the jets. Delgado walked in the top of the fifth. Rippen smoked a shot to right field. The Bear tried to make a diving play but could not come down with it as two Lions get on.
Lane singles out to right field for the RBI as Delgado breaks the tie. Wilson then singled to the left side but the two infielders collided which led to no play being available. This pushed Rippen across. Wade then put one to left field to add Lane as the third Lion to score for the inning and to double the score, 6-3.
Sloan doubled again in the top of the sixth, his third time doing so this weekend. Craska singled to right center which scored Sloan for the 7-3 lead.
A blend of small ball came into play in the seventh inning for the Lions. Wilson walked to open things up which led Wade singling to third as he beat out the throw. Loving laid down a beautiful bunt to third and moved them around. Jenkins joined in with a bunt to first to score one more.
The Bears added a solo shot home run in the top of the ninth to finish the game out at 8-4. This is the seventh series this season that the Lions have won. They had not won more than three series in a single season in the Division I era.
Pitchers of Record
W –
Gavin Oswald (2-2)
L – Perry Titlow (3-6)
S – N/A
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama plays the final game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the opportunity earn their first sweep of the season.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
