Lightning forces GCU and Kansas into tie

Tuesday, April 26

Lawrence, Kan.

1 P.M.

Grand Canyon

19-18-1

Kansas

17-22-1

Grand Canyon

Kansas

4/26/2016 6:21:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Josh Hauser

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Lightning and heavy rain at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, Kan. forced Grand Canyon and Kansas to end in a 5-5 tie on Tuesday evening. GCU was in the process of responding to Kansas' two-run bottom of the ninth with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out in the top of the 10th. Lightning, however, was spotted and the game was paused and eventually called one hour later.

After facing early deficits of 2-0 and 3-2, the Lopes put three runs on the board in the seventh inning. Preston Pavlica and Greg Saenz picked up hits early in the frame before a sacrifice bunt from Jared McDonald scored the tying run. Thomas Lerouge singled on a hot shot off the pitcher to score the go-ahead run. Austin Bull laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate another run, making GCU's advantage 5-3 through seven.

Kansas, however, responded with a pair of runs in the home-half of the ninth inning to send the game to extras. The Jayhawks opened the inning with a walk and a single, allowing a triple off of the wall to score two runs and tie the game. The Lopes evaded a loss with a brilliant double play to record the final two outs of the inning and extend the contest. The game-saving double play in the ninth was the Lopes' fourth twin killing of the contest.

To begin the 10th, Bull drew a walk, Garrison Schwartz reached on an error, and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. GCU was in a great position to reclaim the lead with just one out in the inning, but the lightning and rain hit and play was unable to resume.

The Jayhawks struck first in the opening inning, with a two-out double down the left field line plating a pair of runs.

Grand Canyon responded with single tallies in the third and fifth innings to tie the score. In the third, McDonald led off the frame with a base hit and came in to score on an RBI groundout by Bull. Down 2-1 in the fifth, Krysthian Leal opened the inning with a single and was driven in by Saenz on an RBI double.

GCU pitchers combined to walk eight Jayhawks on the day, but stellar defense from the Lopes, including a season-high four double plays, limited the damage.

Offensively, the bottom half of the lineup accounted for six of Grand Canyon's seven hits. Saenz and Pavlica had two-hit efforts while McDonald scored two runs and laid down two sacrifice bunts.

Grand Canyon will end its season-long eight-game road trip with a trip to face Kansas State on Wednesday night. LHP Ethan Evanko (2-2, 5.16 ERA) will return to the mound for GCU in his first appearance since March 19. Kansas State will counter with RHP Logan Wiley (2-1, 4.56 ERA). First pitch is set for 4:35 p.m. MST and will be available on Fox College Sports Pacific.