Softball
Bears end season with loss to Stetson in ASUN Tournament
Decision ended the storied careers of Griffin, Young and Julia Petty, who helped UCA to two-straight top-three finishes
OXFORD, Ala. — Central Arkansas ended its season on Thursday, falling to Stetson in the final six.
The loss caps 2025 with a 28-27 record for the Bears.
UCA struggled to get the bats going, recording only four hits scattered across the five innings as the Bears fell 10-1.
Meanwhile, Stetson was able to pair multiple at bats in multiple innings to build a lead.
The Bears loaded the bases in each of the first two innings, but couldn’t plate anything in the first.
Stetson scored three in the second to take a lead, and UCA went to work to try to change the rhythm of the game in the bottom of the frame. LJ Smith put down a two-out single, stretching the inning.
Kylie Griffin walked, and Addie Graham singled to load the bases. Madi Young took four-straight pitches to draw a walk, scoring Smith from third to get the Bears on the board.
But after the second, Stetson’s bats continued to find gaps, whereas the Bears’ bats continued to find gloves.
Stetson nickeled and dimed to runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings to stretch the lead, and UCA wasn’t able to muster a comeback.
Thursday’s decision ended the storied careers of Griffin, Young and Julia Petty, who helped UCA to two-straight top-three finishes in the ASUN, and for Young and Griffin, 2023 ASUN regular season and tournament championships.
