Oklahoma City, OK | March 7, 2026 — The Nelson University Lions continued to prove why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against No. 16 Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City. Nelson opened the day with a commanding offensive explosion before closing the night with a gritty pitching performance to secure the day one sweep.

Game 1
Nelson wasted no time asserting control in the opener. The Lions struck immediately in the first inning, capitalizing on patience at the plate and timely hitting to build a quick three-run lead. A two-RBI single from Mitchell Baker put Nelson on the board early and set the tone for the afternoon. 

The Lions continued to apply pressure in the second inning when Joshua Pinter reached base and eventually scored after a defensive miscue by the Evangels, extending the lead to 4–0.

The biggest blow came in the fourth inning when Nelson's offense erupted again. Odnal Rivera drove in a run with a single before Drew Ortiz delivered the highlight moment of the game, launching a towering three-run home run to right field that blew the game open at 8–0. 

Ortiz continued his dominant day at the plate later in the game, blasting a second home run in the sixth inning to give Nelson its ninth run of the contest. 

On the mound, Javier Balderas delivered a strong outing, working six innings while allowing just two runs and striking out two to earn the win. 

Mid-America Christian mounted a late push with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, but Nelson's bullpen closed the door as the Lions secured the 9–4 victory.

Game 2
Game two showcased the Lions' ability to win tight ballgames.

Mid-America Christian struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning, but Nelson responded quickly in the second. Ethan Starks ripped a double into the gap and later scored when Mitchell Baker delivered an RBI single to even the score at 1–1. 

From there, the game turned into a pitcher's duel.

Nelson starter Reagan Smith was dominant, attacking the strike zone and shutting down the MACU lineup. Smith worked a complete game, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out six to improve to 5–0 on the season. 

The decisive moment came in the seventh inning. After Nelson placed runners on base, TJ Sweat raced home on a balk, giving the Lions a 2–1 lead that proved to be the game-winner. 

Smith returned to the mound in the bottom half of the inning and calmly finished the job, recording the final outs to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The Lions' offense produced 11 runs across the doubleheader, while the pitching staff allowed just five runs total, holding a ranked opponent in check throughout the day.

Next Up
Nelson will look to complete the series sweep tomorrow.

• Mar 8 (Sun) | 1:00 PM
• SAC Game
• at Mid-America Christian University
• Oklahoma City, OK

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.