GCU Retakes WAC Lead; Downs 'Runners

Saturday, May 9

Brazell Stadium

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

29-21, 0

Bakersfield

30-18-1, 0

Bakersfield

Grand Canyon

Mauseth's 2-run triple in the 8th gave GCU a 4-2 lead.

Photo by: Theon Carrier

5/9/2015 9:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Naderer tosses complete-game five-hitter

Behind a complete-game five-hitter from Andrew Naderer and an eighth inning two-run triple from Ben Mauseth, the Grand Canyon University baseball team retook the Western Athletic Conference lead with a 4-2 win over Bakersfield Saturday night at Brazell Stadium. The Antelopes hold a one-game lead over the Roadrunners heading into Sunday's rubber game.

GCU improves to 29-21, 16-6 WAC, while Bakersfield drops to 30-18-1, 15-7-1 WAC.

Click here to listen to Michael Potter's postgame interview with Andrew Naderer.

Naderer (4-6) went the distance, fanning five, while not issuing a walk en route to picking up the victory. For Naderer, it snapped a six-decision losing streak, dating back to Feb. 27 when the left-hander threw a complete-game three-hitter against UW-Milwaukee.

"Andrew was on tonight," said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. "It was kind of a welcome back. It's a crazy game and this is a guy who obviously has really good stuff and it's just a matter about getting confident and believing in yourself. He's worked really hard to get it back and I'm really happy for him."

With neither team able to generate any offense through the first four innings, GCU plated a pair of runs on a failed pickoff attempt in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-0 advantage.

The 'Runners would answer with two runs in the top of the seventh to knot the score at 2-2.

Mauseth then delivered a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth to score Thomas Lerouge and Brian Kraft and give the Lopes a 4-2 lead.

"The guys scrapped together some good at bats and Brian Kraft had a nice day today with some quality at-bats," said Stankiewicz. "Thomas Lerouge does a good job putting the ball in play and Benny came up big with a triple. He (Mauseth) is another guy who has really worked hard and become most consistent with his swing."

After a leadoff single from Cody White, Naderer got Logan Trowbridge to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and then struck out the final 'Runner batter to secure the win.

Kraft was lone Lope to turn in a multi-hit performance, as the designated hitter went 2-for-4 at the dish.

The rubber game of the three-game WAC set will be Sunday at 12 p.m. The series finale will serve as the final home game of the season for GCU and the Lopes will honor their seniors prior to first pitch at Brazell Stadium. The game can be found on radio at KXXT 1010 AM (also via the KXXT TuneIn Radio App), the home of Antelope men's basketball and baseball. Live stats and audio links will be available at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 4, Bakersfield 2