'Lopes Open PacWest Play with 11-3 Win over Academy of Art

Thursday, February 28

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-4, 1-0

Academy of Art

1-7, 0-1

Academy of Art

Grand Canyon

Harlyn Griffiths

Photo by: Theon Carrier

'Lopes Open PacWest Play with 11-3 Win over Academy of Art

2/28/2013 10:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Will play doubleheader tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The Grand Canyon University baseball team opened Pacific West Conference play with an 11-3 win over visiting Academy of Art tonight at Brazell Stadium. With the win, the Antelopes improved to 6-4 overall, while the Urban Knights fell to 1-7 and 0-1 in the conference.

The 11 runs marked a new season-high for the ‘Lopes.

Harlyn Griffiths and Steven Swingle combined for seven of GCU’s 11 hits, with four and three, respectively. Both also plated a combined six runs.

Starter Jorge Perez improved to 3-1 on the season after allowing just 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Urban Knight starter Nate Gercken was charged with his first loss after surrendering 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and a walk over 5.2 innings.

“We kind of settled in as the game went on,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “When Jorge got out of that inning where they had first and third with no outs and only allowed one run to score, that was big for us. Academy of Art jumped up 2-1 early, but we did a good job of minimizing runs. Those types of innings can get ugly, but Jorge competed and kept us in it.”

The ‘Lopes got on the board first when Griffiths connected for a two-out RBI triple to score Garrett Jeffries in the second inning.

The Urban Knights tied the score at one in the third inning when the leadoff batter reached on error and came around to score two batters later. Academy of Art took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when their leadoff hitter once again reached, this time via a double, and scored on a groundout later in the frame.

GCU reclaimed the lead following a four-run fifth inning as the ‘Lopes collected four hits, two of which were triples. Griffiths reached on error to lead off the inning and scored on Chris Lindmark's triple. Lindmark then scored on a single by Nick Chapman. Following a wild pitch and groundout that moved him to third base, Chapman scored on Derek Mendoza's single up the middle. Mendoza represented GCU’s final run of the inning after Swingle connected for his second triple of the game.

“We started to get better at-bats and grind it out later in the game,” said Stankiewicz. “We were putting the ball in play. That has to be our game plan offensively because we are not going to drive the ball out of the park very often, so we have to put the ball on the ground and put pressure on their defense.”

The ‘Lopes tacked on another run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 8-2. Academy of Art plated one more run in the eighth inning.

GCU used a three-run eighth inning to score in double-figures for the second time this season. Swingle hit his third extra-base hit in the frame to add 2 more RBI to his resume in the game.

“It is always great to get a win,” Stankiewicz added. “We have two ball games to look towards, so we will enjoy the night and come back tomorrow ready to play.”

The squads will play a doubleheader tomorrow with the first game set to begin at 4 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live stats by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 11, AAU 3