DAYTON, TN – The Bryan Lions Baseball team played their home opener of the 2026 season with four tough losses against visiting Marian University, but showed significant improvement as the weekend progressed, demonstrating the kind of competitive fight that could serve them well moving forward.

The series started rough for Bryan on Friday with a pair of lopsided defeats. Marian dominated the opener 17-10 in a nine-inning slugfest before rolling to a 19-2 victory in the nightcap.

Despite the Game 1 loss, several Lions had productive days at the plate. Jayron Morris went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, showcasing his power. Caleb Ramsey collected two hits and scored twice, while Will Curcio added two hits including a double and drove in a run. Zach Terry contributed two doubles and knocked in two runs. Logan Stradley provided a late spark with a solo homer in the ninth inning.

Game 2 proved more difficult offensively, with Bryan managing just three hits against 13 strikeouts. Jarrett Scott doubled and Jayron Morris drove in a run, while Kaleb Sturman came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit double.

The Lions looked like a different team on Saturday, particularly in the opening game. Bryan's offense finally caught fire, posting nine runs on 12 hits in a competitive 12-9 loss.

Center fielder Caleb Ramsey stole the show with a career performance, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Jayron Morris continued his torrid hitting, finishing 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in the eighth inning that brought Bryan within three runs.

The supporting cast also contributed significantly. Lead off hitter Cyrus Campos reached base twice and scored both times, setting the table for the offense. Will Curcio went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Jarrett Scott added a hit, scored twice, and drew a walk. Cade Cook collected two hits, and both Zach Terry and Caleb McCarty contributed singles. Denajh Williams reached base and swiped a stolen base.

The nightcap showcased Bryan's pitching potential in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat. Starter Hunter Morton struck out three over two innings before Tanner Everett took over and was dominant in relief, allowing just one hit over five innings while striking out five batters. The Lions' offense managed only two hits from Caleb Ramsey and Denajh Williams, but Logan Stradley showed his speed with a stolen base in the defensive battle.

Several Lions put together solid weekends despite the losses. Jayron Morris led the team with a .583 batting average (7-for-12) across three games, adding a home run and five RBIs. Caleb Ramsey hit .333 (6-for-18) with two homers and seven RBIs over all four games. Will Curcio collected five hits in 15 at-bats (.333), while Cyrus Campos reached base seven times throughout the series.

Despite an 0-4 start, Bryan showed clear progress from Friday's blowouts to Saturday's competitive contests. The emergence of Ramsey as an offensive force and the strong pitching performance in the finale provide reasons for optimism as the Lions continue their season.

The Lions will start conference play next weekend, as they host Union Commonwealth University at Senter Field for a three-game series.