Canyon defeats Air Force, clinches divisional crown

Sunday, May 3

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Grand Canyon

Air Force

5/3/1998 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

Antelopes to make first appearance in NCAA postseason

By: Deron Filip

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— Bill Curtis (Grand Rapids, Ml/Forest Hills Northern HS) threw a complete game, the second consecutive complete game for the pitching staff, leading the Grand Canyon University baseball team to a 6-3 victory and three-game sweep over Air Force, in Western Athletic Conference action at Falcon Field on Sunday.

With the victory, Canyon (27-23, 15-12 WAC) clinched the WAC North Division title, qualifying for the NCAA postseason for the first time in the program's history. As North Divsion champions, the Antelopes secured an automatic berth to the WAC Tournament on May 13-16 in San Diego.

Curtis (5-3) surrendered two runs in the first, one unearned due to an error, as Canyon appeared to be affected by the magnitude of the game.

"It's fair to say we were nervous," Canyon head coach Gil Stafford said. "But it was a close game, so the minor mistakes seemed larger."

After being shut out by Air Force starter Eric Eldridge (2-7) for the first four innings, the Canyon bats came alive in the fifth, as the 'Lopes tied the score on Blake Woods' (Chandler/Chandler HS) two-run single.

Canyon added three more in the seventh, capped off by a Woods solo shot, his fifth of the season. Curtis, who walked none and struck out five, followed up Rob Price's (Glendale/Deer Valley HS) three-hit shutout performance on Saturday.

The Falcons fell to 13-36, 6-20 on the season.

Stafford, who guided Canyon teams to three NAIA National Championships in the 1980s ('81, '82, '86), said that the division-clinching victory was an emotional one. This is Canyon's final season in the WAC, as the conference re-aligns for next year, and also its last season as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member.

"It's kind of overwhelming," Stafford said. "This is something that you dream about, especially when we found out we wouldn't be in the WAC and decided to make the move to Division II."

Canyon has one remaining regular-season series, May 8-9 at Brigham Young, which now trails the 'Lopes in the division by four games. The Cougars (27-23, 11-16) can still qualify for the tournament, but can only do so as an at-large team. BYU is still in contention for the third and final at-large spot with four other teams.

The 'Lopes have also assured themselves of their first winning record during the regular season as members of the NCAA.