First-Place 'Lopes Drop Opener to California Baptist

Thursday, April 18

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

30-10, 22-5

California Baptist

27-12, 20-5

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

Michael Pomeroy

Photo by: Darryl Webb

4/18/2013 9:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Teams will play doubleheader tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The No. 15 Grand Canyon University baseball team fell to California Baptist, 5-1, tonight in a key Pacific West Conference matchup between the top two teams in the conference. The Antelopes fell to 30-10 overall and 22-5 in the conference, while the Lancers are now 27-12 overall and 20-5 in conference play. GCU now holds a one-game lead over CBU in the PacWest.

Click here for pregame audio from head coach Andy Stankiewicz.

The game lived up to its expectation of a pitcher’s duel, as the starters combined to allow just three runs in 16.0 innings of work. CBU starter Jon Bengard recorded his third complete game of the season as he improved to 9-0.

GCU Starter Jorge Perez (5-4) allowed just 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk with a strikeout over 7.0 innings. Perez retired seven straight batters to open the game before the Lancers put their first runner on base via an error in the third inning.

Offensively, Paul Panaccione and Ryan Moore led the squad with two hits apiece, while Michael Pomeroy plated an RBI for the ‘Lopes. However, GCU was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded two runners on third base with less than two outs.

“Jorge pitched great tonight,” said Stankiewicz. “He certainly pitched well enough for this game to be tighter. We had opportunities to score more runs. Twice we had runners on third base with less than two outs. We needed to get the ball in play and we didn’t do it. California Baptist can hit and we knew that going in. We just didn’t play well enough tonight to win – they outplayed us. Bengard is good and is undefeated for a reason. We have to learn from tonight and get ready for the next three.”

The Lancers struck first in the fourth inning with a one-out double that came around to score on a two-out double, both of which were down the right field line, to hand CBU an early 1-0 lead. The ‘Lopes had Derek Mendoza on third base with one out in the bottom half of the frame, but were unable to plate the runner.

CBU found themselves with the bases-loaded and two outs via a base hit, error, and walk in the fifth inning, but Perez retired Blair Moore and put an end to the threat. However, the Lancers added another run in the seventh inning following their third double of the game and again with two outs on the board.

GCU cut the lead in half after loading the bases with one out as Pomeroy walked in the first run for the ‘Lopes, scoring Chris Lindmark in the seventh inning.

CBU responded with their third run of the game, which scored on the fourth double for the Lancers in the eighth inning.

Luke Esquerra connected for his eighth home run of the season off reliever Malcolm Purdy, a two-run shot over the left field fence to make it a 5-1 game in the top of the ninth inning. Panaccione led off the bottom half of the frame with a single to left field, but Bengard retired the next three GCU batters to end the contest.

Of CBU’s six hits tonight, five went for extra bases (four doubles and one home run).

“From an offensive standpoint, our guys need to be ready for the same type of pitching tomorrow and Saturday,” said Stankiewicz. “If they get you out with a certain pitch, they are going to keep using that until we show them we can handle it. Hopefully we can answer back tomorrow.”

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader slated to begin at 4 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live audio and stats by visiting www.gculopes.com.

CBU 5, GCU 1