HOBBS, N.M. — The University of the Southwest baseball team opened the 2026 campaign in thrilling fashion on Sunday afternoon, securing a 5–4 extra‑innings victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State in game one of a home doubleheader.

After falling behind 3–1 early, Southwest rallied multiple times before ultimately walking off in the 10th inning.

Oklahoma Panhandle State struck first, capitalizing on a pair of early defensive miscues to take a 1–0 lead in the first and adding two more in the second inning. Southwest responded in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with Dong Joon Shin reaching on a hit‑by‑pitch and stealing second. Alesandro Morrison delivered the first momentum‑shifting swing of the day with an RBI single to make it 3–2, and a subsequent defensive error allowed Morrison to score the tying run.

Both teams traded scoreless frames until the eighth inning, when the Aggies reclaimed a 4–3 advantage. Southwest again answered immediately. After Santiago Garcia drew a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Morrison ripped an RBI double down the right‑field line to bring Garcia home and square the game at 4–4.

The Southwest pitching staff was pivotal in the comeback. Starter Miguel Olivas struck out eight across six innings, while relievers Major Byrd and Keigo Wajima combined for five more strikeouts and just one run allowed. Wajima earned the win after tossing a scoreless 10th.

In the bottom half of the inning, Southwest closed the door. Shin doubled to the right‑center gap, his third hit of the afternoon, to put the winning run in scoring position. Moments later, Mark Gonzales lined a walk‑off double to left‑center, sending Shin home and sealing the season‑opening victory.

Southwest improves to 1-0 on the season and carries that momentum into game two of the doubleheader.

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