'Lopes Fall to Cal Baptist in Home Finale

Saturday, April 14

Phoenix, AZ

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

20-20, 17-15

California Baptist

34-8, 27-5

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

Derek Mendoza

4/14/2012 3:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Grand Canyon University baseball team fell 6-3 in their series finale against Cal Baptist today at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz. The game marked the final home contest for the Antelopes as they will finish out their season with 10 road games.

GCU fell to 20-20 overall and 17-15 in Pacific West Conference play, while the Lancers improved to 34-8 overall, 27-5 in the conference.

“Our pitchers kept us in it today,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “For them (Cal Baptist) to get 21 hits and only score six runs, that means you are playing good defense and making big pitches at the right time. We didn’t swing the bat well but we felt like we were in it until the end, similar to last night. Unfortunately in baseball, that doesn’t matter. You can be in the game late or not, but you have to win.”

Starter Justin Lindsey was tagged with his fourth loss of the season after allowing three runs on 15 hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Sam Moore allowed two runs over 1.0 inning and Mark Jarrett allowed a run over 2.0 innings in relief. The pitching staff allowed a total of 21 hits in the contest.

“Justin is a great competitor and he works hard,” said Stankiewicz. “He did a really good job of doing what the pitching staff refers to as minimizing. Sam came in and did a great job of that in the first inning but his second one got away from him a bit.”

CBU starter David Herd improved to 4-0 on the season after holding the ‘Lopes to two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

Both teams had zeroes on the board until the Lancers broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single off the bat of Matt Daugherty.

GCU responded in the sixth when Derek Mendoza connected for a two-run double to score P.J. Garcia and Michael Pomeroy and put the ‘Lopes ahead 2-1. GCU was then held scoreless until Jackie Samora came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ernesto Ortiz in the ninth inning.

“Derek did a great job this weekend,” added Stankiewicz. “They were throwing him a lot of off-speed pitches so we told him to get the ball deep and use the middle of the field. Today, he hit that double on a 2-0 pitch that was a fastball up and in a little bit. He did a good job of swinging through and putting the ball in right-centerfield. His whole career, in high school, junior college and here, he has been able to drive in runs. Some guys have that knack and he is one of them. He does a good job in the four-hole for us.”

CBU posted back-to-back two run innings in the seventh and eighth to reclaim the lead and also tacked on a run in the ninth inning.

Mendoza and Garcia each finished with two hits today, while Samora and Aaron Mees also added a hit.

The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they travel to Oakland, Calif. to take on Academy of Art for a pair of doubleheaders beginning on Thursday, April 19 with first pitch scheduled at 4 p.m.

CBU 6, GCU 3