DELAND, Fla. (May 20, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team made its Division I postseason debut on Tuesday, falling to Jacksonville in the first game of the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Tournament, 5-1. 

The Lions play the loser today's Austin Peay and North Florida game on Wednesday, May 21 at 2 p.m. 

With the loss, UNA will need to win Wednesday game to avoid elimination. The winner of tomorrow's game will have a break on Thursday as elimination bracket play picks up Friday through Sunday — with a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Lions (23-30, 16-14 ASUN) threw four scoreless innings after giving up a solo home run to the leadoff batter in the first inning. Starting pitcher Anthony Pingeton turned in three strikeouts in his four innings of work. 

The Dolphins (29-23, 17-13 ASUN) were led by designated hitter Chandler Howard who had two of the nine hits today and plated two runs. 

This was the first game for North Alabama in the ASUN Tournament. North Alabama faced Jacksonville for the first time this season. This marked the first game between a Gold Division and Graphite Division opponent since the two divisions do not cross over during the season. 

Five different Lions recorded a hit, while Matthew Delgado plated UNA's lone run for the morning game in the fourth inning to tie things up at 1-1. JU scored two runs in each the sixth and seventh innings. 

North Alabama threw four pitchers in this one as Pingeton earned the start. Luke Davenport threw two innings with a strikeout in 12 batters faced. Gavin Oswald recorded two strikeouts and Justin Battle closed out the game. 

Jacksonville got things rolling early in DeLand. 

On the third pitch, the Dolphin homered in his first at-bat. However, Pingeton settled in and got help from Loving at third for the line out. Craska secured the next out, unassisted at first.

With a mixture of the Florida humidity and some nerves possibly, Pingeton let some of his breakfast greet the field. However, he returned to strikeout the batter at hand.

Then the defenses started to settle in as the sun overtook the field. A couple of scoreless innings went by until Jacksonville found some life in the bottom of the third. A batter roped one down the left field line right between Loving and the base for a double. 

Then the Dolphin that homered, Jaden Bastian, was up with two strikes and two outs. Then Pingeton hit him, which put two on base. The next batter walked with four straight balls.

Pitching Coach David Mervis made a quick visit to the mound. 

Then Pingeton showed why he is top-10 in the ASUN for looking strikeouts. He works a 1-2 count to strikeout the final batter and leave three Dolphins stranded. 

The Lions got some help in the top of the fourth. Delgado found a double to left center to open it up. Rippen then earned a walk.

Lane tried to lay a bunt down the first base side but a miss caused a strike and then a back pick attempt to first on Rippen. The junior dove back and the ball bounced off of him into the outfield which moved Delgado to third.

Then Billingsley, who secured the first hit of the day, hit one to short for a routine play that was coughed up. Delgado scored to tie it at 1-1 after the top of the fourth. 

The unanimous selection to the ASUN All-Freshman team, Davenport, stepped to the mound in the top of the fifth. 

He struck out the first then walked the next. Rippen secured the next out in left field.

The next batter smoked one to left center, on a rope. However, Rippen seemingly came out of nowhere with a sliding dive to make the final out to hold the score.

Then, the Dolphins rolled again in the bottom of the sixth. A walk and single put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly scored one for JU to take the 2-1 lead. 

The Dolphins snagged a stolen base in the process before another walk. A single between the left side of the infield scored another for the extra run.

Oswald took the mound after the seventh inning stretch. 

Jacksonville took three singles, a balk and a hit batter to score two runs. Oswald struck out two before Battle stepped in to clean up the final out, the lead expanded 5-1. 

The Lions got two base runners on for the ninth, but could not find another run. 

Pitchers of Record
W – Richard Long (8-4)
L –  Luke Davenport (3-3)
S – N/A

COMING UP NEXT

North Alabama plays the loser of the 12:30 p.m. game between Austin Peay and North Florida on Wednesday, May 21 at 2 p.m. 

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.