DELAND, Fla. — For the fourth straight season, postseason baseball returns to Melching Field at Conrad Park.
The two-time defending ASUN Tournament champion Stetson Hatters open play in the 2026 ASUN Championship Tournament Tuesday night when the eighth-seeded Hatters face No. 6 seed Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. in a single-elimination opening round matchup at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
The winner advances to face No. 3 seed FGCU Eagles baseball on Wednesday evening.
Stetson enters postseason play with a 23-31 overall record and a 13-16 mark in ASUN competition after clinching a tournament berth during the final weekend of the regular season. The Hatters closed the year by winning four of their final six conference games, including back-to-back ASUN series victories over Jacksonville and Queens.
Despite a challenging schedule that featured multiple nationally ranked opponents throughout the spring, the Hatters continued to show resilience late in the season, producing several comeback victories and extra-inning wins down the stretch to secure their postseason spot.
The Hatters are no strangers to postseason success in DeLand. Stetson captured the ASUN Tournament title in each of the last two seasons and once again serves as host for the conference championship event running May 19-23.
Offensively, the Hatters are led by several key contributors, including Yohann Dessureault, who leads the team with 41 RBIs and eight home runs, while Juan De La Cruz enters postseason play batting a team-best .325 with 29 stolen bases. Renzo Gonzalez and Landon Russell have emerged as key pieces in the middle of the lineup throughout conference play as well.
On the mound, the Hatters have leaned heavily on a deep pitching staff led by James Hays, Trace Hartman and Connor Ball, while relievers including Joel Core, Dallis Moran and Andrew Lepine have provided key innings late in games.
Central Arkansas enters tournament play with a 30-25 overall record and a 17-13 mark in ASUN play after finishing third in the Gold Division. Tuesday's matchup marks the first meeting between the Bears and Hatters this season while the Hatters hold a 7-0 record all-time against Central Arkansas.
The 2026 ASUN Championship features a modified format, with the opening round serving as single elimination before transitioning into a double-elimination bracket beginning Thursday.
No. 1 overall seed North Florida and No. 2 seed Lipscomb earned byes into Thursday's double-elimination round, while No. 4 North Alabama, No. 5 Jacksonville and No. 7 Austin Peay round out the tournament field.
Tickets remain on sale for the ASUN Championship Tournament. General admission tickets begin at $18 per session, while full tournament passes start at $56. Fans can purchase tickets online while seats remain available.
Fans can stay up to date throughout tournament week by following Stetson Baseball on social media and visiting GoHatters.com for schedules, scores, ticket information and complete tournament coverage.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
