The Grand Canyon University baseball team split a doubleheader tonight with Hawai’i Hilo at Wong Stadium in Hilo, Hawai’i. GCU lost 5-4 in 13 innings and then rebounded to win 7-1.
The Antelopes’ overall record now stands at 6-12, 4-10 in the Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans are now 4-6, 1-5 in the league.
Brady Wager (2-3) tossed a complete game in the nightcap to get GCU the win. Wager allowed a run on five hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out 11 without a walk. Wager retired the side in order on three occasions.
Derek Mendoza’s RBI groundout and Charles Wagner’s RBI single gave GCU a 2-0 lead after three innings. GCU piled on five runs on four hits in the fifth to put the game away. Wagner’s two-RBI single and Jackie Samora’s two-run double paced GCU.
Wagner, Michael Pomeroy and Tagg Duce each finished with two hits.
GCU dropped the opener, losing 5-4 in 13 innings.
Grand Canyon took an early 1-0 lead in third when Wagner singled home Pomeroy. GCU went up 2-0 in the fifth when the tandem of Pomeroy and Wagner struck again. Pomeroy singled to open the inning and advanced to third on a Mendoza double. Wagner then followed with his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to left. P.J. Garcia’s sacrifice fly to center in the sixth gave the Antelopes a 3-0 lead.
GCU starter Jorge Perez was touched for four runs on seven hits over 6.0 plus innings of work. The freshman struck out eight and walked one. Perez was in control of the game until he was reached for three runs on five hits to tie score at 3 after the sixth inning.
After falling behind 4-3, GCU was able to tie the game in the eighth when Haryln Griffiths singled home A.J. Pearrson, to send the game into extra innings.
GCU threatened on multiple occasions in extra innings, failing to bring home the go-ahead run. Hilo plated the winning run in 13th. Larry Valdes was walked to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. John Abreau then singled to center, scoring Valdes for the winning run.
Mark Jarrett (0-1) was the tough-luck loser in game one. He threw 2.2 innings, allowing one run on zero hits. Coltin White threw 3.1 scoreless innings.
Pomeroy paced the offense in game one, going 4-for-7.
Wagner finished the doubleheader with 5 RBI, giving him 10 for the season.
Grand Canyon and Hilo will return to Wong Stadium tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m. (Arizona time).
UHH 5 GCU 4 (13)
GCU 7 UHH 1