Bears eliminated after hot start in ASUN baseball championship loss

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.