Baseball Clinches Series Win Over Saint Martin's

Saturday, February 16

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-2

Saint Martin's

0-9

Saint Martin's

Grand Canyon

Brandon Bonilla

Photo by: Theon Carrier

2/16/2013 10:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Defeats the Saints 7-1 in second game

The Grand Canyon University baseball team defeated Saint Martin’s 7-1 tonight at Brazell Stadium to secure their first series victory of the season. With the win, the Antelopes improved to 3-2 overall, while the Saints fell to 0-9.

Starter Andrew Naderer picked up his first career win after allowing just 1 run on 5 hits with a season-high 9 strikeouts over 6.1 innings. At one point in the game, Naderer struck out six consecutive batters as he sat down 11 straight Saints players. Relievers Malcolm Purdy, Brandon Bonilla, and Coley Bruns combined to toss 2.2 scoreless innings.

“Andrew was somewhat similar to Jorge Perez last night in that they weren’t as good early, but kept grinding,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “He found his rhythm in the fourth through sixth innings, and that is encouraging. Andrew is young and has a chance to be a good pitcher. He has to learn to fight through those moments where he can’t seem to find it and I think he did a great job of that tonight. We needed these back-to-back starts with our starters going deep into the game.”

“Brandon was great,” added Stankiewicz. “It is a nice arm to have down in the bullpen and he has worked hard to get back on the mound. He looks like he is getting more and more comfortable. Tonight was a big situation for him to come in and get those outs for us. Then Coley came in and threw strikes and let our defense work behind him. Our bullpen has really done a great job.”

For Saint Martin’s, Josh Moss was tagged with his second loss of the season.

Steven Swingle and Chris Lindmark both recorded two hits in the game, while Brandon Smith led the way with 2 RBI. The ‘Lopes also stole four bases in the contest.

“Steven is getting more comfortable,” Stankiewicz said. “We knew when we recruited him that he could swing the bat and he gives up pop in the middle of the lineup. He is a switch-hitter, so you can’t necessarily pitch around him. He has had quality at-bats his first couple of weeks and has done a great job for us.”

GCU scored first after leadoff hitter Paul Panaccione singled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Derek Mendoza. The Saints knotted the score at one after collecting three hits in the top of the third inning.

The ‘Lopes responded by plating a run in each of the next two half innings and after both squads put up zeroes in the fifth and sixth innings, GCU extended their lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh when Seth Fretheim and Mendoza drew back-to-back walks to open the inning. Smith doubled to plate Fretheim and Mendoza touched home plate via an RBI single from Charles Wagner. Smith also scored in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Nick Chapman.

GCU tacked on another run in the eighth inning after Panaccione drew the eighth walk for the ‘Lopes and scored on a triple from Swingle.

GCU and Saint Martin’s will conclude the three-game series with a contest tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Brazell Stadium. Fans can follow the action via live stats by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 7, SMU 1