GCU Falls to Sacramento State in 10 Innings

Saturday, April 12

Brazell Stadium

1:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

17-15, 7-4

Sacramento State

21-13, 10-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Sacramento State	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	5	12	1
Grand Canyon	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	10	1

David Walker had three hits in today's game against Sacramento State

Photo by: Theon Carrier

4/12/2014 5:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

It was the sixth straight one-run game for the Lopes

The Grand Canyon University baseball team (17-15, 7-4 WAC) scored all four of their runs with two outs, but fell just short in a 5-4, 10-inning loss to Western Athletic Conference leader Sacramento State (21-13, 10-1 WAC) today at Brazell Stadium. It was the sixth straight one-run game for the Antelopes, who lost just their third contest at home this season (10-3), and their fourth extra-inning affair.

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

"It was one of those back and forth games," said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. "Sacramento State is a good team. Just because you punch them doesn't mean they aren't going to punch you back. Down the stretch, we made some mistakes, and we have to do a better job of finishing innings. They scored two or three times with two outs. And every time we scored, they would come back and score. In those moments, it is important to come out and pitch down in the zone, play good defense, and put another zero on the board. A good team is going to stay in it, put together big at-bats late, and that's what they did."

David Walker led GCU's offensive effort, going 3-for-6 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Matt Haggerty and Josh Meyer both collected two hits and two RBI in the game. The Lopes had 10 hits in the loss, their 12^th double-digit effort at the plate.

Starter Andrew Naderer did not factor into the decision, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks with a strikeout over 8.0 innings of work. Kyle Detwiler (1-2) was tagged with the loss after being charged with the go-ahead run in the 10^th inning.

The Hornets got on the board early, scoring a run in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single to left-centerfield to stake the 1-0 lead.

GCU responded in the bottom half of the frame after singles by Walker and Chad De La Guerra put them on third and second with just one out. Haggerty plated both of those runners with a two-out double down the left field line to give the Lopes the 2-1 advantage.

The Lopes made it a two-run game on Meyer's RBI single into centerfield to score Humberto Aranda, who reached on a two-out single to left field in the third.

In the top of the fourth, Sacramento State threatened with runners on first and third and just one out on the board, but Naderer made a nice play on a bunt to get the runner at home. The Hornets were able to get a run across to pull within one in that inning, and knotted the score at three on a solo home run over the left field fence in the next frame.

Meyer put the Lopes ahead again in the fifth inning with a single up the middle that scored Aranda and made it 4-3 in favor of GCU. However, the Hornets answered with a run in the top of the sixth to tie the score at four apiece.

GCU loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth, but the Hornets made a play at home for the first out and reliever Alex Palsha retired his final two batters to hold the Lopes without a run in the frame.

That would hold until Sacramento State broke through with the game-winning run in the 10^th inning.

The rubber match between the two teams will be played tomorrow with game time slated for 12:30 p.m. The game can be heard live by tuning in to Independent Talk 1100 AM KFNX (online at www.kfnx.com or via the TuneIn Radio app on any smartphone).

Sacramento State 5, GCU 4 (10 Innings)