JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Stetson and Central Arkansas will meet in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Softball Championship after playing their way into the finals. First pitch of the championship game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET at the UNF Softball Complex.
Game One: #1 Central Arkansas (2) vs. #2 Stetson (8)
In the opening game of the day, the Stetson Hatters took down Central Arkansas to advance straight to the ASUN Softball Championship game.
Stetson opened up shop in the first inning with four runs that started with an Irianis Garcia double that brought Annabella McClerren and Nicole Edmiaston across the plate. Amber Chumley brought Garcia home before Logan Forman got in on the fun with a double to left-center field for the 4-0 lead.
The bats of the Hatters continued in the second inning when Gia Napoli advanced home on a throw from left field and Edmiaston rounded the bases after a fielder’s choice from McClerren.
Central Arkansas got on the board in the bottom of the third when Grace Molitor and Renee Christian were sent home after RBI-singles from Trinity Branson and Emma Robertson.
Stetson added two more runs in the top of the fifth to extend its lead out to 8-2. The Hatters defense went on to record six consecutive outs to take the six-run win.
Ava Braswell picked up her 19th win of the season after pitching 5.0 innings while striking out six.
Stetson will take on Central Arkansas in the 2026 ASUN Softball Championship game on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET.
Game Two: #4 Jacksonville (9) vs. #7 North Florida (2)
Jacksonville took the final edition of the River City Rumble this season as they knocked North Florida out of the tournament with a 9-2 victory.
The Dolphins bats got going in the first inning when Alison Carter singled through the right side to bring Kate Linkletter and Jaida Thomas across the plate. Emma Mansfield picked up an RBI when she hit a sacrifice fly out to right to make it a 3-0 game.
Jacksonville continued with the offense when Vic Brunette hit a line drive to the right field gap to send Alison Carter home for a quick four run lead.
North Florida got some offense in the third inning when Hannah Davila connected for a two RBI single up the middle to cut the Ospreys deficit in half.
It was all JU after the third inning as Linkletter and Sarah Beth Brake drove in runs while Lindsay Chadwick hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to collect the 9-2 win.
Jacy Harrelson pitched the full 7.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Game Three: #1 Central Arkansas (6) vs. #4 Jacksonville (1)
The Bears advanced to the final game against Stetson after taking a 6-1 win over Jacksonville in the second elimination game of the day.
After the Dolphins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first from a Kate Linkletter home run, Central Arkansas scored six unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to claim the win.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Trinity Brandon cleared the bases with a three-run RBI single to deep right-center field to give UCA its first lead of the game. Grace Molitor added two runs in the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle to bring Lilly Hood and LJ Smith across the plate.
Addie Graham gave the Bears one last insurance run with an RBI single to left field to send Gracie St. Hilaire home and give UCA the 6-1 win.
Jalei White got the start and the win for Central Arkansas going 5.1 innings.
Central Arkansas will take on Stetson in the 2026 ASUN Softball Championship game on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET.
All games of the 2026 ASUN Softball Championship can be viewed on ESPN+.