KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Southwestern Christian baseball continued its strong run at the NCCAA World Series on Tuesday, putting together a perfect Day 2 with a pair of statement victories. The Eagles opened the day with a convincing 9-2 win over Judson University before closing the night with a gritty 9-6 victory over Nelson University, improving to 34-26 overall and gaining momentum in bracket play.
Behind timely hitting, dominant pitching stretches, and clutch late-game execution, SCU outscored opponents 18-8 on the day.
Game 1: SCU 9, Judson 2
Morel goes the distance as Eagles roll past Judson
Southwestern Christian wasted no time setting the tone in its opening game of the day, using a balanced offensive attack and a complete-game gem from Frangely Morel to cruise past Judson University, 9-2.
The Eagles struck first in the opening inning after Eliam Dudamel worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Royce Florenzano brought him home with an RBI groundout for an early 1-0 lead.
SCU added separation in the third inning when Nate Anderson and Dudamel reached base to set up Dario Paredes, who ripped a two-run double into right-center to stretch the lead to 3-0.
Judson answered with two runs in the fourth to briefly cut the deficit to one, but Southwestern Christian immediately responded. Phoenix Nelson delivered an RBI single later in the inning before an error allowed another run to score, giving the Eagles breathing room at 5-2.
The turning point came in the sixth.
With runners on base and two outs, Anderson sparked the rally with an RBI single before Florenzano came through with a clutch two-run knock to push the advantage to 8-2 and put the game out of reach. SCU tacked on another insurance run in the seventh for the final margin.
At the plate, the Eagles pounded out 14 hits, led by Dario Paredes, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Phoenix Nelson added a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and two runs scored. Florenzano finished with three RBIs, and Dudamel crossed the plate three times.
On the mound, Morel was dominant from start to finish. The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out six across nine innings to earn the win and preserve the bullpen for game two.
Game 2: SCU 9, Nelson 6
Late offensive surge seals second win of the day
If Game 1 showcased control, Game 2 tested Southwestern Christian's resilience.
After building an early three-run lead against Nelson University, the Eagles watched the game tighten multiple times but repeatedly answered key moments before a three-run ninth inning sealed a 9-6 victory.
SCU got on the board in the second inning when a Nelson error allowed Royce Florenzano to score after reaching base and swiping second. The Eagles extended the lead in the third as Florenzano again came through in the clutch, delivering a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-0.
Nelson fought back in the bottom half of the third, capitalizing on defensive miscues to tie the game at 3-3. Despite the momentum swing, Southwestern Christian stayed composed. Dario Paredes answered with an RBI single in the fifth to retake the lead, and Braden Browning added a sacrifice RBI in the sixth to make it 5-3.
The Eagles added another run in the seventh when Florenzano drove in Dudamel, but Nelson again threatened, trimming the lead to 6-5 after capitalizing on another pair of defensive mistakes.
With the game hanging in the balance entering the ninth, SCU delivered its biggest inning of the night.
After Anderson and Dudamel reached base, an error brought home one run before Elvis Rojas ripped a two-run single to extend the lead to 9-5 and give the Eagles much-needed insurance. Nelson scratched across one run in the bottom of the ninth, but SCU shut the door to complete the sweep.
Florenzano starred once again, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Anderson and Dudamel each scored three runs and collected two hits apiece. Elvis Rojas added a pair of RBIs in the ninth to help put the game away.
Out of the bullpen, Braden Tucker provided the stability the Eagles needed, throwing 6.1 innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out five to earn the victory after entering in relief.
Looking Ahead
With two more wins on Day 2, Southwestern Christian continued building momentum at the NCCAA World Series and showcased the depth that has fueled its postseason run. The Eagles received standout performances from both the mound and lineup, with Florenzano delivering in clutch moments all day and SCU's pitching staff combining for critical outs when needed most.
