The road through the NCCAA World Series has already tested Southwestern Christian University baseball in dramatically different ways. In Game 1, the Eagles survived an 11-inning offensive shootout powered by a historic performance from Royce Florenzano. In Game 2, SCU flipped the script, relying on timely hitting and shutdown pitching late to edge Mission University in a tight elimination-style battle.
Game 1: SCU Outlasts Ecclesia in 11-Inning Slugfest, 18-12
Against Ecclesia, Southwestern Christian opened tournament play in a game that felt more like three games packed into one. Momentum swung repeatedly, late leads disappeared, and every inning seemed to bring another twist before SCU finally exploded for six runs in the 11th inning to secure an 18-12 victory.
SCU struck first when Royce Florenzano launched a solo home run in the second inning, giving the Eagles an early spark. The offense continued to build a 2-0 lead behind Dario Paredes' RBI single in the third, while starter Mozart Duarte navigated early trouble on the mound.
The middle innings turned chaotic.
Ecclesia stormed back with a four-run fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to suddenly put SCU in a 6-2 hole. At that point, the Eagles faced their first real adversity of the tournament and answered immediately.
In the seventh, SCU's lineup erupted. Dario Paredes blasted a three-run homer to cut the deficit to one, and Elvis Rojas followed with an RBI double to tie the game at 6-6. An inning later, Florenzano crushed his second home run of the afternoon, giving the Eagles a 9-6 advantage and what looked like breathing room.
But Ecclesia refused to fade.
The Royals answered with three runs in the eighth to knot the game again at 9-9, sending the contest into extra innings. SCU briefly regained control in the 10th when Florenzano launched his third home run of the day, a two-run blast that pushed the Eagles ahead 12-9. Yet Ecclesia responded again, using a late two-run homer to erase the deficit and force an 11th inning deadlock.
That is when SCU finally delivered the knockout punch.
The Eagles exploded for six runs in the top of the 11th, capitalizing on defensive miscues and clutch extra-base hits. Nate Anderson delivered an RBI double, Dario Paredes added another RBI single, and Dominic Ornelas broke the game open with a bases-clearing double. Elvis Rojas capped the rally with an RBI single, helping SCU pull away for good. Jackson Robertson closed the door in the bottom half to preserve the dramatic win.
Difference Makers
Royce Florenzano authored one of the most dominant offensive performances of the season, finishing 4-for-6 with three home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored. Dario Paredes was equally dangerous, going 5-for-7 with seven RBIs, including a homer and two doubles. Nate Anderson added four hits, while Dominic Ornelas drove in three runs. Together, the heart of SCU's lineup overwhelmed Ecclesia with 20 total hits.
The game proved something important about this Eagles team: even after surrendering leads multiple times, they never stopped answering.
Game 2: Eagles Respond with Grit, Defeat Mission 5-4
After the offensive fireworks of Game 1, SCU had to win a completely different kind of game against Mission University.
This time, runs were scarce, pitching mattered, and every inning carried postseason tension.
Mission grabbed momentum in the middle innings, turning a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead after Kaedan Thompson ripped a two-run double in the fifth. The Eagles suddenly found themselves chasing the game again.
Instead of panicking, SCU answered with perhaps its biggest inning of the tournament.
In the sixth, Royce Florenzano ignited the rally with a single and stolen base. After Dominic Ornelas reached, Phoenix Nelson ripped a clutch two-run double to tie the game. Moments later, Braden Browning lined an RBI single up the middle, putting SCU back in front 4-3.
Mission would not go quietly.
An SCU error in the seventh allowed Mission to tie the contest at 4-4, creating another late-game pressure situation for the Eagles. But for the second straight game, SCU found the answer. In the eighth inning, Ornelas doubled into the gap before Elvis Rojas delivered the go-ahead RBI single to give Southwestern Christian a 5-4 lead.
From there, the bullpen slammed the door.
After Anderson Paredes battled through 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts, Jacob Hogan came in and delivered a critical scoreless appearance. Jackson Robertson then shut things down over the final two innings, earning the win and securing SCU's second World Series victory. Mission managed just one hit over the final three innings.
Difference Makers
Royce Florenzano stayed red hot, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Phoenix Nelson delivered one of the biggest swings of the game with his game-tying two-run double, while Braden Browning and Elvis Rojas each came through with pivotal RBIs. On the mound, Anderson Paredes gave SCU the length it needed, striking out seven before turning it over to Hogan and Robertson late.
The Bigger Picture
Two games into the NCCAA World Series, SCU has shown it can win in different ways.
Game 1 showcased explosive offense and resilience in a marathon slugfest. Game 2 required composure, situational hitting, and bullpen execution in a one-run battle.
No matter the style, the result has stayed the same: SCU keeps finding answers when the pressure rises.
