Waxahachie, TX | March 20, 2026 — Under clear skies at the Lions Athletic Complex, the Nelson University Lady Lions battled through a gritty Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) doubleheader against Wayland Baptist, but came up just short in both contests against a disciplined Pioneer squad.

Game 1
The opener unfolded as a tightly contested pitcher's duel, with both teams trading blows and refusing to give an inch.

Wayland Baptist struck first, plating a run in the opening inning before the Lady Lions settled in behind the arm of Elena Mendez. Nelson's defense tightened and gave the offense a chance to respond midway through the game.

That spark came from Trista Ford, who delivered a standout performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Cadence Hopgood added production as well, driving in two runs to keep the Lady Lions within striking distance. 

Nelson broke through in the fourth and fifth innings to even the score at 2–2, igniting energy in the home dugout and crowd. But Wayland answered with a decisive push in the fifth inning, capitalizing on timely hitting to reclaim a 3–2 advantage.

Despite a strong relief effort from Macie Blizzard, who shut the door over the final innings, the Lady Lions couldn't find the equalizer late, leaving the tying run just out of reach in a hard-fought 3–2 final. 

Game 2
Game two saw Wayland Baptist carry momentum into the early innings, striking for two runs in the first to immediately put Nelson on its heels.

The Lady Lions showed flashes offensively, with Avery Coleman leading the way with a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate, while Parker Kittrell and Haley Ehlert each added hits. 

However, the Pioneers' pitching staff, led by Logan Schultz, proved difficult to solve. Schultz went the distance, holding Nelson scoreless while limiting opportunities and keeping traffic off the bases. 

In the circle, Valerie Guzman battled through five innings, keeping the game within reach before turning things over to Blizzard, who once again delivered solid relief work to keep the deficit from growing.

Despite continued effort and competitive at-bats, the Lady Lions were unable to break through offensively, falling 3–0 to close out the doubleheader. 

Next Up
The Lady Lions will look to bounce back quickly as the conference series continues Saturday, March 21 | 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM | Lions Athletic Complex | Waxahachie, TX. With another opportunity on deck, Nelson will aim to regroup, reset, and respond the right way.

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.