Central Arkansas has officially promoted Kayla Lucas to head softball coach, marking a new chapter for the Bears as they look to build on recent successes in the ASUN Conference, according to an announcement from athletics director Matt Whiting.

Lucas, a Marion, Ark., native, becomes the fifth head coach in program history after serving as a key assistant for the past five seasons, including four as a full-time staff member.

Lucas’s roots in Arkansas and her deep ties to the UCA program made her a natural choice for the position.

Since joining the Bears’ staff in 2021, Lucas has played a pivotal role in recruiting and developing talent, both in the field and at the plate.

Her efforts have contributed to UCA’s emergence as a perennial contender in the ASUN, with the team securing a top-three seed every year since joining the conference and consistently ranking among the nation’s best in fielding percentage.

“Coach Kayla Lucas has been involved with our softball program since 2021,” Whiting said. “Not only is she very familiar with the University and program, she has been instrumental in some of our softball program’s greatest accomplishments.

“I am excited to elevate Kayla to the role of Head Coach and look forward to working with her to continue advancing Central Arkansas Softball to new heights.”

During Lucas’s tenure as an assistant, the Bears have posted an impressive 173 wins over five seasons, highlighted by the 2023 ASUN regular season and tournament championships.

That season, UCA set a program record with 45 wins and clinched its first NCAA Regional victory, defeating Long Island University in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

The Bears also recorded the fifth-best fielding percentage in the nation and boasted the third-lowest team ERA, reflecting Lucas’s influence on defensive development.

Lucas’s coaching has also produced individual accolades: under her guidance, 28 athletes have earned All-ASUN honors, and the Bears have celebrated three consecutive ASUN Defensive Players of the Year.

Notably, freshman Addie Graham was named First Team All-ASUN and ASUN Freshman of the Year, one of four freshmen who started full-time in 2024, signaling a bright future for the program.

Lucas’s coaching journey began prior to UCA, with a successful five-year stint as head coach at Young Harris College.

There, she led the Mountain Lions to four NCAA Division II National Tournaments, including a championship game appearance in 2019 and a program-best 44 wins.Her teams were consistently recognized for academic and athletic excellence, with numerous players earning all-conference and academic honors.

A graduate of Central Baptist College, Lucas also holds a master’s degree in Exercise Science/Human Performance from Georgia College and State University.

Her academic background complements her commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes.

“I am both honored and humbled to accept this position and remain at UCA. I want to thank Matt Whiting for the confidence and trust to continue the success of our program,” Lucas said. “I also want to thank Jenny Parsons and Dave Kuhn for bringing me in and trusting me.

“Without your support and love, I wouldn’t have this opportunity. I look forward to adding onto the foundation that has made this program successful and continuing to build the Central Arkansas legacy.”

With seven returning full-time starters and a talented bench, Lucas and the Bears are poised to remain competitive in the ASUN for years to come.

Her experience, leadership, and familiarity with the program position UCA softball for sustained success.

DELAND, Fla. — Central Arkansas saw the 2025 season come to a close on Friday afternoon, falling to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 12-5 in the ASUN Baseball Championship at Melching Field in DeLand, Fla.

Despite a promising start and early four-run lead, the Bears couldn’t hold off a relentless FGCU offense and were eliminated from the tournament.

Promising Start Fades

UCA, seeded fourth in the ASUN Gold Division, wasted no time getting on the board.

Keon Moseni and Tanner Leonard opened the game with back-to-back singles, and consecutive walks to Zeb Allen and Nate Negre brought in the first run.

Jagger Schattle’s two-run single to right and a perfectly executed safety squeeze bunt by Noah Goodshield put the Bears ahead 4-0 before FGCU even came to bat.

However, the Eagles, third seed from the Graphite Division, quickly responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. By the third, FGCU had tied the game at 4-4.

The turning point came in the fourth inning, when the Eagles erupted for seven runs on seven hits, surging ahead 11-4 and taking control of the contest.

Pitching Depth Tested

UCA’s pitching staff, already stretched thin by injuries, struggled to contain FGCU’s bats. Freshman starter Aden Velasquez and five relievers combined to allow 17 hits. Velasquez and junior Hunter Alexander each recorded a pair of strikeouts, but the Eagles’ offense proved too much. FGCU’s Preston Rogers and Jordan Vera, coming out of the bullpen, held the Bears to just one run and six hits over the final eight innings, striking out six and issuing no walks.

Offensive Highlights and Senior Farewell

Despite the loss, several Bears delivered notable performances. Fifth-year senior Tanner Leonard capped his UCA career with a 3-for-5 day and a run scored. Junior transfer Keon Moseni also went 3-for-5, scoring twice. Schattle and freshman shortstop Negre each drove in two runs, while Goodshield added an RBI on his first-inning bunt.

“I was really proud of the guys,” Bears coach Nick Harlan said later. “They left it all out there today. With all the injuries and issues we’ve had this year, they could have easily shut it down a while ago but they didn’t.

“We came down here and won a big game on Wednesday and led this one early. We should be proud of our effort this week, and this season. The guys we had available, they definitely put it all out there.”

Tournament Recap: A Season of Grit

The Bears’ journey in the ASUN Championship began with a tough 10-2 loss to Stetson, despite taking an early 2-0 lead.

Defensive miscues and a strong Hatters lineup proved costly, pushing UCA into an elimination game against Lipscomb.

The Bears responded with a resilient win over Lipscomb, extending their tournament run and setting up the showdown with FGCU.

Throughout the season, UCA battled adversity, including a series of injuries that tested the team’s depth.

The Bears finished the year with notable wins and individual accolades, including freshman shortstop Nate Negre’s selection to the ASUN All-Freshman team and sophomore Zeb Allen’s repeat as a third-team All-ASUN honoree.

Looking Ahead

While the 2025 campaign ends in disappointment, the Bears’ ability to compete and rally in the face of adversity bodes well for the future.

With a core of talented underclassmen and the experience gained from postseason play, UCA baseball looks poised to build on this year’s foundation.

As the ASUN Championship continues, FGCU advances to face Jacksonville in the next elimination game, while Austin Peay and Stetson battle in the winner’s bracket.

For the Bears, the offseason brings reflection and preparation for another run at the title in 2026.

DELAND, Fla. — Central Arkansas opened the 2025 ASUN Baseball Championship with high hopes, jumping out to an early lead against the top-seeded Stetson Hatters.

That didn’t last very long.

The Bears were ultimately overpowered by the defending champions, falling 10-2 in the tournament opener at Stetson’s Melching Field.

Facing Stetson’s ace Jonathan Gonzalez, the ASUN Pitcher of the Year, the Bears wasted no time making their mark.

Senior Tanner Leonard singled with one out in the top of the first inning and promptly stole second.

After sophomore Zeb Allen was hit by a pitch, freshman shortstop Nate Negre—fresh off his ASUN All-Freshman team selection—delivered a clutch two-run double to the right-center gap, giving UCA a 2-0 lead.

Negre’s performance continued his breakout season, finishing the game 2-for-4 with both of the Bears’ RBIs.

Allen, a third-team All-ASUN honoree for the second consecutive year, contributed two hits and a run scored, highlighting the young talent on UCA’s roster.

The Bears’ early momentum was short-lived.

In the third inning, Stetson capitalized on a series of UCA defensive errors—four in total throughout the game—combined with five Hatters hits to surge ahead 6-2.

The Bears’ defense struggled to contain the Hatters’ aggressive offense, and the home team never looked back.

“We got off to a great start and put some pressure on their ace, but you can’t give a team like Stetson extra chances. The errors hurt us, and they made us pay.”

Despite the mounting deficit, the Bears flashed defensive resilience.

In the fourth inning, senior right fielder Preston Curtis threw a perfect one-hop strike to the plate, where freshman catcher Carter Alexander tagged out Stetson’s Salvadore Alvarez to end the inning.

The following frame, freshman third baseman Noah Goodshield made a key play to cut down a runner at home, and senior reliever Perry Titlow struck out two to escape further damage.

Stetson, now 20-8 at home, continued to apply pressure. Right fielder Jordan Taylor launched a solo home run in the seventh, and two more runs scored on wild pitches, sealing the 10-2 victory.

The Hatters out-hit the Bears 12-8 and played error-free baseball, a testament to their status as defending champions and tournament favorites.

UCA starter Charlie Christensen, who entered the game with a team-leading 72 strikeouts, took the loss despite allowing just six hits and two earned runs.

The Bears’ inability to limit mistakes proved costly against a Stetson lineup that has had UCA’s number in recent years—the Hatters are now 7-0 all-time against the Bears.

With the loss, the Bears (19-34) move into an elimination matchup against the Lipscomb Bisons at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

This will be the seventh meeting between the two teams this season, with both sides eager to extend their tournament run. Lipscomb dropped a close 7-6 contest to Florida Gulf Coast in their opener, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch.

Coach Nick Harlan remained optimistic about his team’s chances.

“We’ve battled adversity all year, and this group knows how to respond. We’ll regroup and be ready for Lipscomb,” Bears coach Nick Harlan said.”

The ASUN tournament’s double-elimination format means the Bears must win to keep their season alive. Last year, UCA advanced to the semifinals in their first ASUN tournament appearance, showing the program’s potential to compete at a high level.

Key players:

• Nate Negre (freshman shortstop): 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, ASUN All-Freshman team
• Zeb Allen (sophomore left fielder): 2-for-3, run scored, third-team All-ASUN
• Charlie Christensen (junior right-hander): 6 hits, 2 earned runs allowed

Stetson advances to face Florida Gulf Coast in the winner’s bracket, while UCA faces a must-win scenario against Lipscomb.