The Grand Canyon University baseball team lost to Cal Baptist, 15-4, in the second matchup of the four game series in Riverside, Calif. With the loss, the Antelopes are now 2-4 overall and 0-2 in Pacific West Conference play. The Lancers improved to 4-2 overall, 2-0 in the conference.
For the second straight night, Cal Baptist scored 15 runs while outslugging the ‘Lopes, 17-10. It marked the second time this season the 'Lopes have collected at least 10 hits, as they had a season-high 16 hits on Feb. 5 vs. Colorado Mesa.
GCU starter
Cody Repenning was charged with 10 runs on nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 3.1 innings to take the loss. Lancers’ starter Jon Bengard improved to 2-0 after allowing just one run on five hits with a strikeout in 7.0 innings of work.
Sam Moore tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief for GCU in his team-high fourth relief appearance of the season.
Michael Pomeroy led the offensive charge after going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Lucas Leifeld and
P.J. Garcia each added two hits, while
Ernesto Ortiz plated a team-high two RBI in the game.
The ‘Lopes got on the scoreboard first after Leifeld opened up the third inning with a double and scored via Ortiz’s RBI double one out later. Cal Baptist responded with a seven-run bottom half of the inning as they collected six hits, two of which went for extra bases.
GCU scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning as Garcia and Pomeroy each had an RBI single. Garcia has hit safely in three of his last four games, all of which have been multi-hit affairs (.467, 7-for-15). The ‘Lopes added another run in the ninth when Liefeld and
Joey Bristyan hit back-to-back one-out singles with Liefeld scoring on an Ortiz groundout to third base.
The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they play the final two games of the four-game series at Cal Baptist tomorrow as part of a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. Arizona time. Following tomorrow’s contests, GCU will return home to face Dixie State for back-to-back doubleheaders on Feb. 17 and 18 at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz.
CBU 15, GCU 4