'Lopes Drop Series Opener to Point Loma

Thursday, March 7

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-5, 4-1

Point Loma

8-8, 6-3

Point Loma

Grand Canyon

Brandon Bonilla

Photo by: Theon Carrier

3/7/2013 10:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Teams will play doubleheader tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The Grand Canyon University baseball team fell, 7-4, tonight to Point Loma at Brazell Stadium in the series opener. The Antelopes are now 9-5 overall and 4-1 in Pacific West Conference play, while the Sea Lions evened their overall mark to 8-8 and are now 6-3 in the conference.

Starter Jorge Perez was charged with his second loss of the season after allowing 7 runs on 12 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts over 6.2 innings. For Point Loma, Tyler Garkow posted his third complete game en route to improving his overall record to 4-1. Garkow allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts.

“They are a good team,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “They run the bases well and are very aggressive. Their pitcher did a great job. To have six strikeouts and no walks over 9.0 innings is tough. He makes guys put the ball in the play. It is frustrating for sure, but we have to let it go and come back tomorrow.”

Brandon Bonilla relieved Perez and tossed 2.1 scoreless and hitless frames, his eighth straight scoreless outing for the ‘Lopes.

“Brandon did a great job tonight and has done a great job all year,” said Stankiewicz. “Our goal is to progress with him, move forward with the pitch count and innings. He has responded very well out of the bullpen, and he is starting to gain confidence. His teammates are certainly excited when he takes the mound.”

Offensively, Derek Mendoza led the way for GCU after going 2-for-3 with a run scored, double, triple, and RBI. Seth Fretheim, Garrett Jeffries, and Brandon Smith also collected an RBI in the game.

Point Loma scored first when they connected for back-to-back home runs in the top of the second inning. It was the first long ball the ‘Lopes have given up since their second game of the season on Feb. 9 against UC San Diego.

GCU cut that lead in half when Jeffries doubled home Mendoza, who recorded the first hit for the ‘Lopes with a one-out double in the bottom of the second inning. Harlyn Griffiths came around to score and knot the game at two on an RBI single from Smith.

Point Loma reclaimed the lead when the leadoff hitter singled to start the top of the third inning and came around to score on an RBI single three batters later. The Sea Lions added another two runs in the fourth inning to extend their advantage to 5-2.

The ‘Lopes closed the gap to two runs when Michael Pomeroy opened the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field and scored on a triple off the bat of Mendoza. However, the Sea Lions responded with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning via a two-run triple that came with two outs.

GCU would score the final run of the game, in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Paul Panaccione collected an infield single, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, moved to third on pinch-hitter Brian Kraft's groundout and scored on a Fretheim single. Neither team would score again as the Sea Lions held on for their third straight win.

The squads will be in action again tomorrow for a doubleheader, both 7.0 inning games, slated to begin at 4 p.m. at Brazell Stadium. Fans can follow the action via live stats by visiting www.gculopes.com.

“As frustrated as we are tonight, we have to let it go and come back tomorrow,” Stankiewicz added. “We have to get out of the box better and play better defense early. That is one area we need to tighten up and be ready to play right now.”

PLNU 7, GCU 4