March 7, 2025
Oklahoma City, OK – The Nelson University Lions hit the road for a crucial Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) showdown against Oklahoma City University on Friday, March 7, walking away with a split in the doubleheader after a resilient effort in both contests.
Game 1
The Lions took care of business in the opener, securing a 5-3 win behind timely hitting and strong pitching. Javier Balderas was locked in on the mound, tossing six dominant innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three.
Offensively, Xavien Thompson set the tone, scoring three runs, while Dominick Padilla and Nick Mosley delivered key RBIs to keep Nelson in control. Padilla's heads-up baserunning and Mosley's clutch sacrifice fly helped the Lions capitalize on Oklahoma City's defensive miscues.
Even as Oklahoma City attempted a late rally with a two-run homer in the seventh, Layton Mogford shut the door in relief, securing the save and sealing the Lions' victory.
Game 2
In the nightcap, Nelson battled but ultimately fell 8-3 as Oklahoma City rebounded with an offensive surge.
Dominick Padilla provided the highlight of the game for the Lions, crushing a two-run homer in the third to momentarily tie the contest at 2-2. Andrew Ortiz also made an impact, roping a triple and later scoring to keep Nelson in striking distance.
However, Oklahoma City's bats answered with a three-run third inning and a late-game surge to pull away. Despite solid efforts from Josh Pinter (1-for-2, RBI) and Jaxson Bates (double), the Lions couldn't muster enough offense against OCU's starter J. Burkett, who went the distance with seven strikeouts.
Next Up
The Lions wrap up the series on Sunday, March 8, at 2 PM, looking to take the series win against Oklahoma City.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.
