GCU Baseball Wins Series Finale Against Colorado Mesa

Sunday, February 5

Phoenix, AZ

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-2

Colorado Mesa

2-2

COLORADO MESA

Grand Canyon

Jackie Samora had 4 RBI in the series finale vs. Colorado Mesa on Feb. 5.

2/5/2012 2:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Grand Canyon University baseball team defeated Colorado Mesa, 10-9, today at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz. to split the four-game series with the Mavericks. Both teams now stand at 2-2 following their first weekend of action.

The teams combined for 29 hits and 19 runs in the game, while nine different pitchers were used in the contest. GCU accounted for 16 of those hits, 13 of which came within the third to sixth innings.

“We already had three games under the belt, so I think the guys had settled in a little bit,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “Our guys have grown up a little bit. They jumped on us early, but we came back. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, they are a good team. They have had a lot of success. The guys responded well to hang on and get the win.”

GCU starter Justin Lindsey earned the win after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work. Mark Jarrett secured his second save in as many tries with 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

“For the starters this weekend, the numbers speak for themselves,” Stankiewicz added. “They all went at least 5.0 innings and you need that from your starters because it gives you room in the bullpen. They all did a fantastic job this opening weekend and it’s a credit to coach Nathan Choate. They are also in good shape, they worked hard in the offseason to do just that.”

The Mavericks got on the board first with a two-run home run off the bat of Erik Kozel in the third inning. The ‘Lopes answered by scoring two of their own runs in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Derek Mendoza and RBI single by Michael Pomeroy.

The two teams exchanged runs again in the fourth inning before GCU opened up the game with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a leadoff home run by P.J. Garcia, his third long ball of the series. Jackie Samora plated the other runs via a bases-clearing double with two outs. Samora finished with a game-high four RBI.

The ‘Lopes added three more runs in the sixth inning via a two-run single by Tagg Duce and an RBI double by Kyle Peterson.

CMU responded by scoring two runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth to make it a one-run ballgame at 10-9 during which the ‘Lopes committed three errors. However, Jarrett retired each of the four batters he faced to end the game.

“Our walks this weekend were great, there were no freebies,” said Stankiewicz. “That’s part of developing your pitching staff. Sam Moore did a great job down in the zone and Jarrett did a fantastic job. Even Coltin White did a good a job even though he got some balls up, that’s not typical of him. He is going to give us some big innings down the road.”

The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they travel to Riverside, Calif. to take on PacWest foe Cal Baptist in a four-game set beginning on Thursday, Feb. 9. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Arizona time. The teams will play again on Friday at 3 p.m. and conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday scheduled to begin at noon.

“Cal Baptist is a good team, they have always been good,” added Stankiewicz. “They have had a lot of success and we know they will be well-coached and disciplined. I’m confident about what I saw here.”

GCU 10, CMU 9