DeLAND, Fla. — The Stetson Hatters saw their 2026 season come to a close Tuesday night with a 6-4 loss to the Central Arkansas Bears in the opening round of the ASUN Championship Tournament at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
The Bears used an early offensive surge to build a lead before holding off several late Stetson rallies. Despite the loss, the Hatters out-hit Central Arkansas 12-9 and placed runners on base throughout the night but stranded 12 baserunners in the contest.
Central Arkansas struck first in the opening inning. Parker Gwyn scored on a groundout by Keaton Laidley before Zeb Allen crossed home on another RBI groundout from Mark Ross to give the Bears an early 2-0 advantage.
The Bears added two more runs in the third inning and extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth following a solo home run from Laidley.
Stetson answered in the top half of the fifth inning. Jack Harley drew a walk before Anthony Gonzalez singled to put two aboard. Renzo Gonzalez then lined an RBI single into right-center field to plate Harley and put the Hatters on the board. Later in the inning, Yohann Dessureault reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Anthony Gonzalez to score and trim the deficit to 5-2.
Central Arkansas responded with another run in the bottom half of the sixth inning, but the Hatters continued to battle. Jayden Hylton walked and advanced to third on an Andrew Ezell single before Daniel Perez lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
Stetson again threatened in the eighth inning. Harley doubled into the gap and later scored on Anthony Gonzalez's RBI single to make it a two-run game, but the Hatters were unable to push across another run as Central Arkansas secured the 6-4 victory.
Junior James Hays started for the Hatters and took the loss after allowing four runs over four innings while striking out three. Connor Ball delivered a strong outing in relief, tossing four innings while allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three without issuing a walk.
Renzo Gonzalez paced the Stetson offense with three hits and an RBI, while Harley and Anthony Gonzalez each added two-hit performances. Harley additionally scored twice and reached base three times in the contest.
The loss concludes Stetson's season at 23-32 overall. The Hatters advanced to the ASUN Championship Tournament for the third consecutive season after closing the regular season with series victories over Jacksonville and Queens.
Key Performers
Game Notes
- Stetson out-hit Central Arkansas 12-9
- Four Hatters recorded multi-hit performances
- Renzo Gonzalez collected his team-leading 17th multi-hit game of the season
- Connor Ball tossed four innings of one-run relief without issuing a walk
- Stetson went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position
- The Hatters stranded 12 runners on base
- Stetson pitchers limited Central Arkansas to 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position
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.
