Bethany, OK | April 16-17 — Nelson softball showed fight, resilience, and flashes of offensive firepower across a four-game SAC road series at Southwestern Christian, closing the trip with a gritty win after three tightly contested battles.
The series opened with a tough 5-2 loss, despite a strong start in the circle from Elena Mendez and early production at the plate. Nelson struck first in the third inning, using RBI swings from Mendez and Trista Ford to take a 2-0 lead. The Lions held that edge deep into the game before a late surge from SCU flipped the script in the final frame.
Game two proved to be another grind. Nelson scattered five hits but couldn't break through offensively, falling 6-0. The Lions put runners on and showed patience at the plate, but timely hits remained just out of reach as SCU capitalized late to extend the lead.
Day two brought a shift in energy. In game three, Nelson's offense came alive in a back-and-forth battle that stretched into extra innings. Ava Fernandez delivered a huge swing with a two-run home run, while the Lions piled up 11 hits and erased an early deficit. The fight was there until the end, but SCU edged out a 7-6 win in a walk-off finish.
The response? Exactly what you want to see.
In the series finale, Nelson flipped the momentum with a statement 7-6 victory. Trailing early, the Lions exploded for a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Layla Oliver that sparked the dugout and turned the game on its head. Timely hitting and aggressive baserunning set the tone, and in the circle, Valerie Guzman shut the door late to secure the win.
Through adversity, the Lions showed growth, toughness, and the ability to respond. The weekend may not have gone their way in the standings, but the fight and finish told the real story.
Next Up?
Apr 24 (Fri) | 1:00 PM (DH) vs Texas Wesleyan University in Waxahachie, TX at the Lions Athletic Complex.
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.
