Marshall, TX | March 31, 2026 — It started as a fight. It ended as a statement. The Nelson University Lions walked into Marshall and walked out with thunder, erupting for 18 runs on 18 hits in a dominant 18–9 victory over Wiley University Tuesday afternoon at Coker Field.
After surrendering an early two-run homer in the first, the Lions didn't flinch. They responded with relentless pressure at the plate, explosive swings, and a late-game surge that turned a tight contest into a runaway. Nelson answered immediately in the second inning when Diego Arcay launched a two-run blast, tying the game and setting the tone for what would become a long day for Wiley pitching. The Lions continued to chip away, manufacturing runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 5–3 lead. But Wiley refused to go quietly, clawing back to tie the game at 5–5 after four innings.
That's when everything changed.
With the game hanging in the balance, Nelson delivered the knockout punch in the seventh. Bases loaded. Big moment. Bigger swing. Arcay crushed his second home run of the day, a grand slam igniting a five-run inning that flipped the game on its head and gave the Lions a commanding 10–5 lead.
Moments later, Justin Amesquita added a solo shot, and the floodgates were officially open.
Nelson wasn't done.
The Lions piled on five more runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, showcasing depth, discipline, and power throughout the lineup.
From top to bottom, the lineup delivered. Eight walks, timely hitting, and relentless aggression kept Wiley on its heels all afternoon.
After a shaky start, the Nelson bullpen stabilized the game when it mattered most.
Dylan Zajicek earned the win, delivering 2.2 scoreless innings and shutting down Wiley's momentum during a critical stretch.
The staff combined to navigate traffic and limit damage long enough for the offense to explode.
Next Up
- Apr 3 (Fri) | 1:00 PM
- vs Oklahoma City University
- Waxahachie, TX | Lions Athletic Complex
Back home. 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.
