McPherson, KS | March 13, 2026 — The Nelson University Lions softball team delivered a resilient and explosive performance Friday afternoon, sweeping a road doubleheader against Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas.
Nelson showcased both grit and firepower in the twin bill, grinding out a dramatic extra-inning victory in Game 1 before erupting offensively in Game 2 to complete the sweep.
Game 1
The opening game of the series turned into a tense defensive battle as both teams traded scoreless innings deep into the afternoon. Nelson starting pitcher Elena Mendez was dominant in the circle, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard through regulation. Despite producing steady offense with nine hits, the Lions struggled to break through early as Central Christian pitcher Clarissa Rejino worked out of several jams.
Nelson finally struck first in the eighth inning, when Morgan Womack delivered an RBI single to push the Lions ahead 1–0. The Tigers responded in the bottom half to tie the game and force extra innings. In the 10th inning, the Lions capitalized on pressure. With the international tiebreaker placing a runner on second, Elena Mendez advanced and eventually scored on wild pitches, giving Nelson the decisive run. Braylei Pylant entered in relief and closed the door in the bottom half, stranding the tying run to secure the 2–1 extra-inning victory and earn the win.
At the plate, Cadence Hopgood (3 hits) and Avery Coleman (3 hits) paced the Lions offense in the tightly contested opener.
Game 2
If Game 1 required patience, Game 2 showcased Nelson's offensive firepower. The Lions struck immediately in the first inning, as Ava Fernandez and Avery Coleman delivered back-to-back RBI doubles to give Nelson an early 2–0 lead.
Central Christian briefly cut into the lead in the second inning, but Nelson quickly regained control. In the third inning, Fernandez came through again with a two-run double, stretching the Lions' lead to 4–1 and igniting a surge at the plate. Nelson broke the game open in the fifth inning, plating five runs on five hits. Extra-base hits from Avery Coleman (triple) and Kinsley Rodriguez (double) highlighted the rally, while Haley Ehlert and Layla Oliver also delivered RBIs to cap the scoring explosion.
Ava Fernandez led the offensive barrage, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Coleman added multiple extra-base hits in a standout performance.
In the circle, Valerie Guzman earned the win and Macie Blizzard provided strong relief work to limit the Tigers to just two runs as the Lions rolled to a 10–2 victory.
Up Next
The Lions will look to keep the momentum rolling as the series continues:
Next Up
- March 14 (Sat)
- 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM
- SAC Doubleheader
- Central Christian College
- McPherson, Kansas
Nelson enters Saturday's games riding the energy of a hard-fought sweep and will aim to continue climbing in Sooner Athletic Conference 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.
