Waxahachie, TX | February 6, 2026 — The Nelson University Lions baseball team returned home to the Lions Athletic Complex on Friday afternoon and delivered a full day of drama in a doubleheader against Avila University (Mo.), showcasing explosive offense in Game 1 before battling through adversity in Game 2.
Nelson opened the day with authority, rolling to an 11–1 victory in the opener as the Lions' bats erupted early and often. After a scoreless first inning, the roar began in the second when Jorge Amesquita launched a two-run homer to ignite the offense. One inning later, Diego Arcay turned the game into a rout with a towering three-run blast, pushing Nelson firmly into control.
The Lions never let up. Josh Pinter added a solo shot in the fourth, and Nelson poured on four more runs in the sixth to seal the run-rule win. Arcay finished with a monster day at the plate, driving in three runs and collecting multiple extra-base hits, while Justin Amesquita chipped in a homer and two RBIs of his own. On the mound, Mario Velasco was composed and efficient, working five strong innings while allowing just one run and striking out six to earn the win. The bullpen followed suit, slamming the door to complete the dominant opener.
Nelson struck first again, manufacturing runs with patience and speed to grab an early lead, but Avila answered with timely power and capitalized on defensive miscues to swing momentum. A pivotal fifth inning saw the Eagles break the game open, and despite continued pressure from the Lions' lineup, Avila pulled away late for a 12–6 decision.
Offensively, Nelson continued to scrap. Addison Patton drove in two runs, Zeke Velazquez collected multiple hits and an RBI, and Michael Montano crossed the plate twice. The Lions continued to battle into the final innings, but Avila's late surge proved too much to overcome in the nightcap.
Despite the split, Friday's doubleheader showcased the Lions' depth the early-season roar continues to build.
Next Up
The series resumes on Saturday, February 7 at 12:00 PM, as Nelson hosts Avila University (Mo.) in the back end of the doubleheader at the Lions Athletic Complex, looking to bounce back and take control of the weekend.
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.
