GCU Opens PacWest Play with a Pair of Losses

Monday, February 28

Hilo, HI

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-7, 0-1

Hawaii Hilo

4-2, 1-0

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Hilo

'Lopes look to rebound tomorrow with another doubleheader on tap.

3/1/2011 1:25:09 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Mike McNally

The Grand Canyon University baseball team opened its nine-day, nine-game Hawai’i road trip this evening, losing twice, 2-0 and 9-8, at Wong Stadium in Hilo, Hawai’i.

The Antelopes had opportunities in first and second inning to take the early lead in game one, but each time left runners stranded on first and second.

R.J. Etchebarren led off the game with a single to right and later moved to second on walk to Ernesto Ortiz. Vulcans pitcher Kekoa Lee was able to escape any damage, getting Tyler Bair to fly out and a strike out of Colin Courtland.

The ‘Lopes once again put runners on first and second in the second inning, but Lee induced Etchebarren into a fielder’s choice groundout.

Grand Canyon finished the game 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Hawai’i Hilo scored in the fifth on a throwing error by Ortiz to take a 1-0 lead. They would add an insurance run in the seventh when Dan Hennigs greeted GCU reliever Cody Repenning with a RBI single to center.

Brady Wager started for GCU, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over 6.2 innings. He walked six, struck out four and had two hit batters.

Joey Bristyan reached base in all three of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a walk.

Errors were the theme in the second game as GCU committed six miscues, leading to seven unearned runs for the Vulcans.

After falling behind 3-0 after two innings, the Antelope bats came to life with a four-run third.

Jackie Samora’s two-run double to left brought GCU to within 3-2. Kalab Evans, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, followed with a single that scored Samora and tied the game at 3-3. Evans would later score the go-ahead run on a single from Etchebarren.

After the Vulcans tied the score up 4-4, GCU would quickly regain the lead on an RBI double by Bair and a RBI single from Evans in the fourth.

Coltin White (1-2) entered the game for starter Justin McKee in the fourth and gave up three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout and sacrifice fly, White walked Vulcans batter Steven Riddle to load up the bases again. White induced the next Hilo batter, Jonathan James, into a chopper back to the mound, but his throw to first was errant, allowing two runs to score, giving HHU a 7-6 lead.

The Vulcans tacked on two more runs in the inning to open a 9-6 lead.

Grand Canyon rallied one more time when Courtland cut the lead to one with a two-run single in the fifth. The hit snapped an 0-for-15 slide for Courtland.

GCU placed runners on base over the final two innings but were unable to get them into scoring position.

Adam Serrano pitched well on the mound in relief, allowing a hit over 2.1 scoreless innings.

The losses drop GCU to 3-8 overall and 0-2 in the Pacific West Conference. Hawai’i Hilo improved to 5-2 and 2-0 in the PacWest.

Grand Canyon returns to Wong Stadium for another doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 7 p.m. (Arizona Time). The games can be heard live on Hawai’i Hilo Radio. Go to GCULopes.com to access the broadcast.

Hawai'i Hilo 2 GCU 0

Hawai'i Hilo 9 GCU 8