'Lopes Drop 4-1 Contest to Chico State, Play Elimination Game Tonight

Saturday, May 18

St. George, UT

10 AM

Grand Canyon

No. 6 Chico State

Coley Bruns

'Lopes Drop 4-1 Contest to Chico State, Play Elimination Game Tonight

5/18/2013 12:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Will play winner of Sonoma State and Cal State Monterey Bay

The Grand Canyon University baseball team dropped their first game as part of the NCAA Division II West Regional hosted by Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. The Antelopes dropped a 4-1 contest to sixth-seeded Chico State, moving their overall record to 36-17 on the season. The Wildcats, ranked 13^th in the latest NCBWA national poll, improved to 37-16 and needs just one more win for a berth into the Division II College World Series.

The ‘Lopes will now play the winner of top seed Cal State Monterey and second-seeded Sonoma State, who are slated for an elimination matchup at 2 p.m. (Arizona time). Game time for GCU’s second game of the day is 6 p.m. (Arizona time). The winner of that game will need two wins against Chico State to earn the right to play in Cary, N.C.

Fans can follow the action live by visiting www.gculopes.com. The pregame show will get underway at approximately 5:45 p.m. (Arizona time).

Click here to view the postgame press conference with head coach Andy Stankiewicz, starting pitcher Coley Bruns, and third baseman Derek Mendoza.

Starter Coley Bruns tossed 7.2 innings and was hampered by a two-out home run in the third inning that plated three runs. He completed the day with 4 runs allowed on 7 hits and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts. The outing marked the second longest for Bruns this season.

Derek Mendoza led the way offensively for GCU, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Kyle Raidy added 2 hits, while Charles Wagner accounted for the lone ‘Lopes RBI.

The game was scoreless until Austin Prott connected for a two-out, three-run home run over the right field fence on the first pitch he saw in the third inning. It was the first time that GCU has found themselves trailing in the postseason.

The Wildcats added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single to right field to make it a 4-0 game.

GCU loaded the bases with one out in top of the sixth inning and Wagner plated the first run for the ‘Lopes with an RBI single to right field. The next two batters were retired via strikeout as Chico State ended GCU’s threat.

Chico State threatened in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with two outs by virtue of back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch. Bruns recorded the final out by fanning Cody Slader.

The ‘Lopes had runners on first and second with one out in the top of the eighth, but consecutive fly outs ended the frame for GCU. The Wildcats answered with a similar situation of their own in the bottom half of the eighth, but reliever Brandon Bonilla promptly recorded the third out on a three-pitch strikeout.

Brian Kraft hit a two-out double in the top of the ninth and advanced to third on a wild pitch; however, Paul Panaccione grounded out to second to end the game.

CSU 4, GCU 1