Waxahachie, TX | April 7, 2026 — The Nelson University Lady Lions returned home to the Lions Athletic Complex looking to make a statement in Sooner Athletic Conference play, but despite consistent pressure at the plate, Langston capitalized on key moments to take both games of Tuesday's doubleheader.
Nelson matched Langston hit-for-hit across the day, but timely execution proved to be the difference as the Lady Lions fell 3-1 in both contests.
Game 1
The opener was a tightly contested battle where opportunities were present all afternoon for Nelson. The Lady Lions recorded seven hits, led by Layla Oliver, who drove in the lone run while going 3-for-4 at the plate.
Elena Mendez added a strong showing with two hits, while the lineup consistently found ways to get runners on base. However, Langston's ability to deliver in key moments including multiple stolen bases and clutch RBIs allowed them to control the pace late.
In the circle, Valerie Guzman battled through five innings before Braylei Pylant came in relief, but Langston scratched across runs in the fifth and seventh innings to secure the 3-1 win.
Game 2
Game two followed a similar script but once again, a single inning proved costly.
After four scoreless innings, Langston broke through with a three-run fifth that shifted the momentum. Nelson responded with traffic on the bases throughout the game, tallying seven hits again, but struggled to string together the big inning they needed.
Marcella Bryan provided a spark with a run scored, while Layla Oliver and Trista Ford continued to produce at the plate. In the circle, Elena Mendez delivered a solid outing across six innings, keeping Nelson within striking distance before the late push fell short.
The story of the day was consistency without the breakthrough. Nelson matched Langston with 14 total hits across the doubleheader, but the inability to capitalize with runners in scoring position proved costly in competitive SAC play.
Next Up
The Lady Lions will look to respond and close out the series strong against Langston with first pitch set for 12 PM and 2 PM 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.
