Waxahachie, TX | Feb. 2, 2026 — The Nelson University Lions put a bow on a perfect series Monday afternoon, overpowering York University (Neb.) 12–6 at the Lions Athletic Complex to complete the sweep in decisive fashion. With timely hitting, extra-base pop, and lockdown relief pitching, Nelson controlled the game from the opening frame and never let go.
York struck first with a two-run top of the first, but the response from the Lions was immediate and emphatic. Nelson answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, igniting the home crowd and setting the tone for the afternoon. From there, the Lions kept pressing adding runs in the fourth and fifth before breaking the game open with a four-run seventh to put it out of reach.
The Nelson lineup was relentless, piling up 17 hits and turning nearly every scoring opportunity into damage. Tate Thrasher delivered the loudest swing of the day, launching a home run as part of a 5-RBI performance, while also collecting multiple extra-base hits. Drew Ortiz continued his torrid start to the season with three RBIs, spraying doubles into the gaps and keeping pressure on the York defense. Joshua Pinter, Odnal Rivera, and Addison Patton all chipped in multi-hit efforts as the Lions showcased depth from top to bottom.
On the mound, Javier Balderas earned the win after navigating early traffic, and the bullpen took over from there. Hamilton Moye stabilized the middle innings, limiting York to just one run over his stretch, before Cash Eckermann slammed the door with dominant late relief, striking out four in just over an inning to secure the victory.
York managed 11 hits on the day but was unable to string together sustained rallies against the Lions' pitching staff, which finished with 14 strikeouts and zero errors defensively.
With the win, Nelson moves to 5–0 on the young season, carrying momentum into its next challenge.
Next Up:
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 12:00 PM, facing the University of Houston–Victoria in Bryan, Texas as Nelson looks to keep its early-season roll alive.
Nelson University (formerly SA GU) 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.
