Baseball swings the bats in win over Cal Poly

Saturday, March 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 P.M.

Grand Canyon

9-5

Cal Poly

11-4

Cal Poly

Grand Canyon

3/12/2016 10:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – After being shut out in the series opener, the Lopes responded in a big way to the tune of 16 runs on 17 hits to even the series on Saturday night at Brazell Stadium with a 16-3 win over Cal Poly. GCU set season highs in both runs and hits to improve to 9-5 this season.

"Ethan (Evanko) did a great job of setting the tone for the game and getting us off to a good start," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We were able to slow down their offense and provide our pitchers some offensive support."

It was a career night for some a pair of Lopes as Ethan Evanko delivered the perfect remedy after a tough loss last night, posting a career-high nine strikeouts, going five innings allowing three hits and two runs. Paul Panaccione had three hits with a career-high five RBI's while scoring a run. The Lopes posted two six-run spots on the scoreboard in the second and fifth innings, putting the game out of reach early on.

"Ethan's changeup was working well tonight," Stankiewicz said. "He set the tempo tonight and his defense made some great plays behind him."

Grand Canyon opened the scoring with a single tally in the opening frame. The Lopes sent seven batters to the plate in the inning but left the bases loaded, as Cal Poly starter Cam Schneider coaxed two looking strikeouts to end the first.

In the second, the Lopes broke the game open with six runs on five hits. The first three GCU batters reached base, setting the table for Panaccione who drove in the first run of the inning on a sac fly. Not content with a 2-0 lead, Grand Canyon used run-scoring singles from Garrison Schwartz, Greg Saenz and Brandon Smith to shoot the Lopes out to a 7-0 lead through two innings.

"It's big to have guys at the top of the lineup getting on base," Panaccione said. "When guys at the top of the order can get on base for the run-producers, that's huge for any team. That's our job in the middle of the order. They do their jobs, and it helps everyone out."

GCU had four players with two or more RBI's while Jake Wong and Gabe Benavides relieved Evanko to close out the game.

The Lopes will look to take the series on Sunday, March 13, against the Mustangs at Brazell Stadium. Grand Canyon will start left-hander Jake Repavich (2-0, 1.35 ERA) while the Mustangs will send out right-hander Erich Uelmen (2-0, 2.70 ERA). The game is set to begin at 12 p.m.