Central Arkansas, Stetson advance in ASUN softball tournament

JACKSONVILLE | The ASUN’s two softball heavyweights have set a date, and they did it at the expense of the conference’s two Jacksonville-based universities.

No. 1-seeded Central Arkansas and No. 2 Stetson both won their first ASUN Tournament games on May 7 at the University of North Florida’s Softball Complex and will play in the winner’s bracket final on May 8 at noon.

Stetson first baseman Nicole Edmiaston was 2 for 2 and relief pitcher Hayley Arnold threw 2.2 hitless innings in a 4-2 victory over North Florida and UCA’s Addie Graham slammed a three-run homer during a five-run second inning and the Sugar Bears went on to run-rule Jacksonville University 8-0 in five innings.

University of North Florida third baseman Hannah Davila (27) and second baseman Kelsey Vogel

Stetson (34-20) and Central Arkansas (35-18-1) last played in the 2025 ASUN Tournament in Oxford, Ala., with the Hatters winning 10-1. The Bears won three regular-season matchups versus the Hatters before that.

Stetson leads the ASUN in team batting average (.315) and Central Arkansas (.312) is second. UCA leads in runs per game (6.12) and Stetson (6.1) is second.

Seventh-seeded UNF (38-21) played No. 3 North Alabama (36-15) in an elimination game after its loss to Stetson. JU (34-19) faces the UNF-North Alabama winner on May 8 at 2:30 p.m.

Arnold closed the door on UNF rally

Stetson took a 2-0 lead in the second when Gabby David walked, Nadia English singled and UNF left fielder Hallie Langford misplayed Madelyn Synoracki’s single into a two-base error.

The Hatters scored in the third inning when David drew a bases-loaded walk and added another run in the fourth when Synoracki singled, went to second on Gia Napoli’s sacrifice and scored on Edmiaston’s single.