Waxahachie, TX | April 3-4 — The Nelson University baseball team delivered a statement weekend at home, taking two of three from Oklahoma City University in Sooner Athletic Conference action, powered by timely hitting, electric arms, and late-game grit.

Nelson opened the series with authority, riding a dominant performance on the mound and explosive extra-base power to a 7-1 victory. Reagan Smith set the tone early, carving through the Stars lineup with a complete-game gem, allowing just one run while striking out seven. Behind him, the Lions' offense erupted in the middle innings. Justin Amesquita sparked the breakthrough with a two-RBI double before Joshua Pinter and Drew "Drippy" Ortiz launched back-to-back home runs in the sixth to blow the game wide open. Nelson's aggressive baserunning and clutch hitting turned a tight contest into a runaway win.

Game two brought the drama.

After falling behind 2-0 early, the Lions stayed poised and chipped away inning by inning. Addison Patton delivered the biggest swing of the day, ripping a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to complete the comeback and secure a 3-2 victory. On the mound, Javier Balderas was nothing short of dominant, going the distance while racking up 11 strikeouts and holding Oklahoma City to just two runs. The Lions didn't overwhelm with offense, but they executed when it mattered most, showcasing a gritty, winning edge.

Looking for the sweep, Nelson came out swinging in the series finale, trading punches in a back-and-forth battle. The Lions jumped early with a two-run second inning and continued to answer throughout the game, highlighted by home runs from Odnal Rivera, Zeke Velazquez, and Diego Arcay. Even down late, Nelson refused to fold, pulling within one in the ninth after a two-run blast from Rivera. But Oklahoma City held on in the final moments, handing the Lions a narrow 8-7 loss. 

Across the series, Nelson's identity was on full display with  power at the plate, pressure on the bases, and frontline pitching capable of taking over games. With the series win, the Lions continue to build momentum in conference play and defend their home turf with authority.

Next Up

• Apr 7 (Tue) | 3:30 PM

• vs Huston-Tillotson University

• Waxahachie, TX | Lions Athletic Complex

The Lions return home looking to keep the bats hot and the wins rolling. 

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.