Oklahoma City, OK | March 8, 2026 – The Nelson University Lions wrapped up their Sooner Athletic Conference series against No. 16 Mid-America Christian University on Sunday afternoon at MACU Baseball Field, engaging in a back-and-forth offensive battle before falling 13–9 in the series finale.
Despite the loss, the Lions showed plenty of fight, pounding out 11 hits and putting pressure on the Evangels throughout the afternoon in a game that featured early fireworks and momentum swings on both sides.
Nelson wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard in the opening frame. After Joshua Pinter drew a walk and Odnal Rivera reached safely, Zeke Velazquez laced an RBI double down the left-field line to plate the first run of the game. Moments later, Ethan Starks launched a towering two-run home run to left field, giving the Lions a quick 3–0 advantage and setting the tone for an offense-ready afternoon.
Mid-America Christian answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, erupting for six runs to swing the momentum back in their favor. The Evangels used timely extra-base hits and a two-run blast from Adam Hanan to surge ahead 6–3 before the Lions could record the final out of the inning.
Nelson refused to go quietly. In the third inning, Drew Ortiz sparked another rally with a two-run homer to right field, trimming the deficit and keeping the Lions within striking distance. Ortiz continued his standout day at the plate, finishing 4-for-5 with three RBIs and scoring twice.
The Lions' offense kept producing in the middle innings. Starks drove in another run with a sharp single in the fifth, while Mitchell Baker added an RBI on a fielder's choice as Nelson briefly tied the contest at 8–8 after capitalizing on defensive miscues.
But the Evangels delivered the decisive blow later in the fifth inning when Sammy Hallada crushed a three-run homer to left-center field, pushing MACU back in front and giving the hosts the cushion they needed down the stretch.
Nelson continued to chip away, plating another run in the sixth when Rivera tripled to center and scored on an RBI single from Ortiz to make it 11–9. However, MACU added insurance runs in the eighth inning to secure the 13–9 final.
Starks also enjoyed a big afternoon for the Lions, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run, while Rivera added two hits including a triple and scored twice.
On the mound, Luke Edmonds provided a steady stretch out of the bullpen, tossing three innings while allowing just one run and striking out two as Nelson worked to slow MACU's offense.
While the Lions ultimately fell short in the finale, their offense showed resilience against a nationally ranked opponent, continuing a competitive series between two strong SAC programs.
Next Up
Nelson returns home to the Lions Athletic Complex to continue Sooner Athletic Conference play:
- March 13 (Fri) – 3:30 PM
- SAC Series
- vs. Southwestern Christian University
- Waxahachie, TX | Lions Athletic Complex
The Lions will look to regroup and defend their home field as conference play rolls on in Waxahachie.
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.
