Plainview, TX | February 20, 2026 – The Nelson University Lions opened Sooner Athletic Conference play in a back-and-forth battle Friday afternoon, falling 7–6 to Wayland Baptist in a game that went down to the final inning.
Nelson pounded out 11 hits and showed fight all afternoon, but Wayland answered late to secure the one-run win.
After trailing early, the Lions erupted in the middle innings. Nelson plated two in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take control of the momentum.
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Joshua Pinter drove in two runs.
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Diego Arcay added two RBIs of his own.
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Mitchell Baker went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
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Drew Ortiz sparked the lineup with two hits and two runs scored.
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Zeke Velazquez added a pair of hits, including a double.
On the mound, Mario Velasco battled through five innings, striking out four. The Lions' bullpen worked to keep it within reach, but Wayland scratched across the go-ahead run in the eighth.
Nelson out-hit Wayland 11–8, but five walks and timely hits by the Pioneers proved decisive in the SAC opener.
The Lions showed grit, answering multiple deficits and competing pitch-for-pitch in a game that could have gone either way.
Next Up
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader:
Plainview, TX
12:00 PM
2:30 PM
The Lions will look to even the series and make a statement in SAC play.
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.
