LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The No. 5 seed Carolina University Bruins saw their 2026 season come to a close in dramatic fashion on Thursday, falling 9–8 in 10 innings to No. 3 Florida National University in an elimination game at the CAC Baseball Tournament.
One day removed from a tough opening loss, the Bruins responded with resilience and offensive firepower, erasing an early deficit and trading blows with Florida National throughout the afternoon. Carolina finished with 14 hits and built an 8–6 lead midway through the contest before the Conquistadors rallied to force extra innings and ultimately walk it off in the 10th.
Carolina wasted no time bouncing back from a three-run first inning by Florida National, exploding for five runs in the second inning. RBI hits from Andres Hoyos and Nathan Wesley highlighted the surge, giving the Bruins a 6–3 advantage early.
At the plate, the Bruins were led by Danny Gonzalez, who delivered a perfect 3-for-3 performance with two RBIs and two walks. Ty Vespe added two hits and scored twice, while Chandler Smithart also tallied two hits and crossed the plate twice. Daniel Isbell chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI as part of Carolina's balanced offensive attack.
Florida National answered in the sixth and seventh innings, tying the game at 8–8 despite Carolina briefly reclaiming the lead on RBI knocks from Alexis Fontanez and Gonzalez. The Bruins bullpen held firm late to send the game into extras, but the Conquistadors capitalized in the 10th, scoring the decisive run on a wild pitch to seal the outcome.
On the mound, Cameron Gribble worked 6.1 innings, striking out four, while Landon Johnson took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in extra innings.
Despite the result, Carolina showed grit throughout the tournament, competing toe-to-toe with higher-seeded opponents.
Associate Head Coach Logan Conklin reflected on the team's effort and growth following the game.
"We fought until the very last pitch today, and that's all you can ask from a group," said Conklin. "This team showed tremendous heart and resilience all season long. While it's a tough way to end, I'm incredibly proud of how these guys competed and represented our program."
With the loss, the Bruins conclude their season at 22–27 overall, marking a competitive first year under Associate Head Coach Conklin and a historic appearance in the CAC Tournament.
