Grand Canyon lost a pair of 2-1 decision to Hawai’i Pacific in Honolulu, Tuesday. GCU, ranked No. 7 in the nation, dropped to 22-9 overall and 10-4 in the Pacific West Conference.
In the first game, GCU out-hit the Sea Warriors 8-4, but left nine runners on base, including two in the seventh inning.
The game was scoreless through four and one-half innings before HPU scored twice in the fifth. GCU answered with one in the six.
Kelsey Barak and
Kailey Regester each had singles in the inning and Barak scored on a passed ball. There were no extra base hits in the game.
The game also marked the end of
Kayla Henry’s 29-game on-base streak.
Stephanie Pesqueira gave up just four hits and one earned run and dropped to 10-5.
In game two, Henry started a new streak. She went 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, but the Antelopes weren’t able to score until the seventh and had just five total hits. Down 1-0,
Haley Walker reached on an error and moved to second on a Henry single. Back-to-back walks to
Lauren Regester and Kailey Regester tied the game, but the Antelopes walked in a run in the bottom half of the seventh inning to suffer their second loss of the day.
In relief Kailey Regester suffered the loss and fell to 4-3. She struck out five and gave up one earned run.
"Our pitchers did a good job in both games, but our defense didn't play well in the second and we weren't able to get a timely hit in either game," said GCU coach Ann Pierson. "It was a frustrating day.
"Pesky and Kailey threw outstanding. They did everything they needed to do and got out of some jams."
The Antelopes finish their PacWest Hawai’i road trip Wednesday with a doubleheader at BYU-Hawai’i. First game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., Arizona time.
HPU 2, GCU 1 (G1)
HPU 2, GCU 1 (G2)