Lions Roar in ASUN Tournament with Historic Victory Over North Florida
DeLand, Fla. (May 21, 2025) – The University of North Alabama baseball team clinched its first postseason victory in the Division I era, overpowering the fourth-seeded North Florida Ospreys 14-11 in the ASUN tournament on Wednesday. This significant win marks the Lions’ first postseason triumph since 2017 when they defeated Mississippi College in the Gulf South Conference tournament.
The game witnessed an offensive explosion, highlighted by a record-setting four home runs from the Lions. Petey Craska and Nash Rippen each launched a two-run homer in the first inning, followed by Rippen’s solo shot in the fifth and Alex Wilson’s first-ever career home run in the sixth. Craska’s homer, measuring an impressive 418 feet, was the longest hit in the 2025 ASUN tournament.
The Lions responded well each time the Ospreys scored, maintaining a competitive edge throughout the game. North Alabama’s batting lineup was relentless, with every starting player contributing; Matthew Delgado, Jonathan Lane, and Rippen each crossed the plate twice, while Wilson led the team with three runs.
UNA’s offense tallied 10 hits at a .286 clip, with Bryan Loving standing out as a key player, driving in four RBIs, a personal and seasonal high. On the mound, Tripp Patterson earned the win after going 5.1 innings, while John Allen Stogner secured the save.
The Lions will continue their postseason journey, facing the loser of Thursday’s clash between Austin Peay and Jacksonville on Friday at 10 a.m. The team aims to build on this momentum as they look to advance further in the tournament.
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