GCU Drops Series Finale With Vols

Sunday, March 8

Knoxville, TN

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

11-6

Tennessee

6-5

Grand Canyon

Tennessee

Photo by: Darryl Webb

3/8/2015 2:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Grand Canyon dropped a 7-1 decision to Tennessee in the rubber match of the three-game set today at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

GCU's overall record now stands at 11-6. The Vols improved to 6-5.

The Antelopes were unable to generate much offense in the contest, being held to just three hits. GCU scored its lone run of the game in the seventh inning. Brandon Smith led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a Garrison Schwartz double. Smith would score on a Rouric Bridgewater ground out.

Tennessee scored a single run in the first and fifth to grab a 2-0 lead. GCU starter Cameron Brendel (2-2) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings.

"Cameron did a nice job, fighting and clawing throughout," said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. "He certainly wasn't at his best today, but he was competitive."

The Vols did the bulk of their damage in the sixth inning, scoring five runs. A.J. Simcox got things started when his 2-RBI single pushed the lead to 4-0. UT would score three more when Christin Stewart, with two runners aboard, singled to right and error by right fielder Schwartz allowed all three runners to score.

GCU used four relievers, with Ruben Rincon being touched for four runs (three earned) in 0.1 innings. Travis Garcia-Perreira tossed a scoreless inning.

"We gave the ball to our bullpen in those middle innings and we did not do a good job of shutting them down," added Stankiewicz. "It has been a strength in the early part of the season, but not today."

The Antelopes will next face nationally-ranked Oklahoma State (No. 21 in the latest D1Baseball.com poll) in a three-game set beginning on March 13. Andrew Naderer is once again slated to take the Friday start for the Antelopes. Live video ($) and stats links can be found at www.gculopes.com, courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics.

"This has been a great experience for our guys to come here and play a historically great program in Tennessee who has been to the College World Series numerous times," concluded Stankiewicz. "To play in a big environment like this and compete, will hopefully let our guys know they can move forward to Oklahoma State next weekend and also build on this for the program as whole."

UT 7 GCU 1