For the first time since 2014, the Stetson Hatters are back on top of the ASUN conference—and they're headed to the NCAA Tournament. On Saturday, the second-seeded Hatters delivered a dominant 4-0 shutout against top-seeded Central Arkansas to claim the ASUN championship title at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville.
This wasn't just any victory. Stetson (36-20) had to beat the conference's top seed twice in the tournament, and they did so with poise and power. After defeating Central Arkansas in the winner's bracket final on Friday, they faced them again in Saturday's title showdown. Thanks to the double-elimination format, the Hatters had a safety net, but they didn't need it—they sealed the deal in Game 1.
The star of the day was sophomore right-hander Hayley Arnold, who delivered a complete-game gem. Over seven innings, she allowed just three hits and two walks, striking out five on 90 pitches. Her performance was even more impressive considering she had already thrown two shutout innings in relief against the Sugar Bears the day before.
The Hatters struck first in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore shortstop Irianis Garcia singled through the right side, driving in senior right fielder Gia Napoli for a 1-0 lead. Then, in the fourth, junior designated player Mason Barclay provided the knockout punch. After junior catcher Logan Forman led off with a double, Barclay crushed a two-run homer to right field, extending the lead to 3-0.
Stetson added an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Garcia, and Arnold closed out the game with two more scoreless frames. The final out came on a fly ball to left field, caught by sophomore Amber Chumley, and the Hatters poured out of the dugout to celebrate at the pitching circle.
This championship marks Stetson's sixth ASUN Tournament title, moving them into sole possession of second place on the all-time leaderboard, ahead of Georgia State. It's a milestone that underscores the program's resurgence and sets the stage for an exciting NCAA Tournament run.
The Hatters will learn their NCAA Tournament destination during the selection show on Sunday, May 10, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Whether they're headed to a regional or super regional, one thing is clear: this team is playing its best softball at the perfect time.