GCU's Late Rally Falls Just Short in 5-4 Loss at ULM

Saturday, February 15

Monroe, LA

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

0-2

Louisiana Monroe

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	4	11	4
ULM	0	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	X	5	6	1

Jaren Drummond tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief

Photo by: Theon Carrier

2/15/2014 4:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Four players collect first multi-hit game of the year

A Grand Canyon University baseball (0-2) ninth-inning rally fell just short as they dropped a 5-4 decision today to the University of Louisiana at Monroe (2-0) at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La. The Warhawks jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and held the Antelopes scoreless for the first 5.0 innings.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with assistant coach Gregg Wallis.

The 'Lopes made a comeback with a three-run ninth inning that was jumpstarted by a couple of key pinch-hitters. Jon Kealoha led off the frame with a walk and was moved to second on a groundout by Brian Kraft. Charles Wagner doubled to left-center and came around to score on a single off the bat of Chad De La Guerra to cut the Warhawks' lead to just one run.

"It was good to see that the guys had good at-bats late, but you just can't have a sense of urgency in the ninth inning when you're down by four," said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. "You have to have that at the very beginning and not try to string it together at the end. But I liked the fight. We just have to show that in innings one through nine."

Four GCU batters collected their first multi-hit game of the year: David Walker, De La Guerra, Michael Pomeroy, and Josh Meyer. For the second straight game, GCU outhit ULM, this time by a margin of 11-6.

Starter Andrew Naderer was charged with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.

"Andrew didn't command well today, especially with his fast ball," Stankiewicz explained. "It was very uncharacteristic of him. Maybe he was trying to do too much, and put the team on his shoulders. He needs to command the fastball better. It seemed like he never really caught a rhythm. But he fought and battled to keep us in the game. His pitch count jumped up pretty quick, so we had to get him out."

Malcolm Purdy, Zebastian Valenzuela, Trent Wilson, and Jaren Drummond combined for 3.2 strong innings of relief, allowing just one hit and collecting three strikeouts. Drummond ended the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.

"The relievers looked great today," Stankiewicz added. "They pounded the zone and threw a lot of strikes."

ULM used a leadoff triple in the second inning that consequently scored two pitches later on a wild pitch to take the early 1-0 lead. That turned in to a crooked number on an RBI groundout to third base, followed by an RBI single to left field before Naderer nabbed a comebacker and got the out at first to end the inning.

The 'Lopes put runners on first and second with two outs in the third inning via singles by Meyer and Walker, but the Warhawks ended the threat with a double play. ULM put themselves in a first and third situation with two outs in the bottom half of the frame, but a diving play by Ben Mauseth secured the scoreless inning for GCU.

GCU had two runners on again in the fourth inning, this time by two-out singles from Paul Panaccione and Pomeroy, but were unable to put a run on the board. Conversely, the Warhawks took advantage of a GCU error in the bottom half of the inning to plate another run and make it a 4-0 game.

ULM used two more 'Lopes errors in the fifth inning to tack on their fifth run.

After De La Guerra reached with a leadoff single to open the sixth inning and moved to second on a wild pitch, Pomeroy's two-out infield single put GCU on the board.

Meyer opened the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line and was followed by a walk to Matt Haggerty, but after back-to-back strikeouts, a runners interference call ended the inning.

GCU put their leadoff runner on base yet again in the eighth, this time with a double off the bat of Brandon Smith. However, ULM recorded three consecutive outs to hold their four-run lead.

GCU's late rally in the ninth inning ended with a called strikeout that stranded the tying run on second base.

The series concludes tomorrow at noon (Arizona time) with right-hander Coley Bruns for GCU and right-hander Alex Hermeling for ULM slated to get the starting nod on the mound. Fans can follow the action live by tuning in to Independent Talk 1100 AM or www.1100kfnx.com.

ULM 5, GCU 4