Grand Canyon scored nine runs in the first three innings to cruise to a 9-3 win over Texas-Pan American tonight at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz.
The win improves the Lopes overall record to 17-14 and 6-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. Additionally, the win moved the Lopes into second place in the WAC, a half-game behind first place Seattle U. The Broncs fell to 11-17, 0-8 in the league.
Click
here to listen to Coley Bruns' postgame interview with Michael Potter.
Coley Bruns stole the show once again, going 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He fanned 9 batters tonight and now has struck out 30 over his last three starts.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Antelopes answered with a run of their own on a RBI single by
Chad De La Guerra.
Paul Panaccione's 2-run single in the second keyed a three-run inning that put the Lopes up 4-0 after two frames.
The Lopes completed their early inning outburst with five runs in the third.
Thomas Lerouge and Panaccione each had a RBI single, while
Brandon Smith added a two-run single in the inning.
On the night, the Lopes went 8-for-16 and drove in seven runs at the plate with two outs. GCU also drew eight walks, their second highest mark of the season (11 on two occasions).
Greg Saenz and Panaccione each had three hits, while Lerouge had two. Smith drew three walks during the contest.
The two teams will wrap up the series tomorrow with a game that is slated to begin at 12 p.m.
Cameron Brendel is expected to make the start for GCU. The game can be found on radio at KXXT 1010 AZ (also via the KXXT TuneIn Radio App), the home of Antelope men's basketball and baseball.
GCU 9 UTPA 3