No. 13 A&M-Victoria's historic season ends in Opening Round

LEWISTON, Idaho -- A&M-Victoria's historic 2026 season came to an end Tuesday afternoon with a 5-1 loss to Keiser (Fla.) in the NAIA Opening Round at Harris Field.

Despite the setback, the Jaguars (36-17) capped a landmark campaign that included the program's first-ever Red River Athletic Conference regular-season championship, a record number of All-RRAC selections and multiple individual records rewritten along the way.

Against a deep Keiser squad (36-18), A&M-Victoria matched the Seahawks with nine hits but was unable to capitalize in key moments, stranding 15 runners on base in the contest. 

Keiser built an early advantage and never relinquished it as the Jaguars' season came to an end.

Key Moments

The tone of the game was set in the opening inning, when Keiser plated three runs. Elian Collado sparked the rally by scoring on a throwing error before Avery Doezie delivered a two-run single to push the Seahawks ahead 3-0.

A&M-Victoria answered in the second inning, cutting the deficit to 3-1 when Roberto Olguin drove in Garrett Smith with a groundout. However, that would be the Jaguars' lone run despite several scoring opportunities throughout the game. 

The Jaguars threatened multiple times, including leaving the bases loaded in the second and stranding runners in scoring position in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. In total, A&M-Victoria left 15 runners on base, a key factor in the outcome. 

Keiser added insurance in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a two-out rally. Collado delivered again with a two-RBI hit that extended the lead to 5-1 and effectively sealed the game. 

Top Performers

Garrett Smith led the Jaguars offensively, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, accounting for one-third of the team's hits. Josiah Taylor added a strong effort with a 2-for-4 performance, including a double, while Ty Boozer and Beck Zimmerman each contributed a hit and reached base multiple times. 

On the mound, Blane Zeplin (10-2) delivered a quality outing despite taking the loss, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. Justin Mireles worked the eighth inning in relief. 

While Tuesday's result marked the end of the journey, it did little to diminish a breakthrough season for A&M-Victoria — one that established new standards and set a foundation for continued success.