For the second day in a row, the Grand Canyon University baseball team split a doubleheader with Academy of Art, losing the first game 11-6 and winning the nightcap 4-3, at Laney College in Oakland Calif.
The split leaves GCU with a 20-20 overall record, 15-13 in the Pacific West Conference. The ‘Lopes now trail first place Dixie State by four games, with four conference games remaining. The two clubs will meet for a four-game set in St. George, Utah next weekend. GCU will need a sweep in order to tie the Red Storm in the standings. Hawai’i Pacific sits in second place in the conference, 2.5 games back of Dixie, with nine conference games (five with Hawai’i Hilo and four with Art U) left on their schedule.
GCU managed the split today by rallying to score three runs in the seventh to overcome a 3-1 deficit in game two.
Kalab Evans got the Antelopes going in the seventh with a one-out single.
Tyler Bair followed with a double to put the tying runs in scoring position. Evans would score on a throwing error by the Urban Knights catcher to trim the lead to 3-2.
Joe Jacobson tied the game with a RBI single and
Mike Kenneth gave GCU the lead with a sacrifice fly.
Art U placed two runners on board in the bottom half of the inning with one out, but GCU starter
Coltin White fanned the final two batters to end the threat. White (6-3) picked up his third complete game of the season, allowing three runs on five hits over 7.0 innings. He fanned a season-high 10 batters.
Bair paced the Antelope offense with two hits.
The Antelopes led the first game of the doubleheader 5-1, until Art U scored nine runs in the sixth inning to put the game away.
William Armijo (1-2) took the loss for GCU, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits in 0.2 innings.
Starter
David Wydeven allowed five runs (four earned) in seven hits over 5.0 innings.
The offense was led by
Ernesto Ortiz who went 2-for-5 with two RBI, including his second home run of the season.
The ‘Lopes stranded 12 runners in the game.