GCU drops series opener to New Mexico

Tuesday, March 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 P.M.

Grand Canyon

10-6

New Mexico

9-6

New Mexico

Grand Canyon

3/15/2016 10:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon baseball team opened up a two-game series against New Mexico on Tuesday night at Brazell Stadium. The Lopes fell behind early to the Lobos, dropping the first game 10-6. GCU is now 10-6 this season.

"We have to do a better job of minimizing runs early in the game," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We can't give up three runs in three different innings because it puts our offense in a tough spot. I like the way we fought back and got back in the game."

New Mexico attacked early on offense, scoring three runs in the first two innings while holding GCU at bay. New Mexico kept GCU's offense quiet for the first four innings with only two hits but the Lopes found their groove in the fifth inning. Griffin Barnes recorded the first two RBI of his career, with a single scoring Zach Malis and Krysthian Leal. Austin Bull followed up with a bases-clearing triple, adding two more runs in the fifth. Paul Panaccione brought in Bull off a sacrifice fly, ending the inning with five runs, cutting New Mexico's lead 7-5.

GCU continued to apply the pressure in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Bull bringing in his third RBI of the night. Bull cut New Mexico's lead to just one run with a single, scoring Barnes.

"I am proud of our young guys stepping up but at the same time it is about winning ball games," Stankiewicz said. "New Mexico is a good offensive team but we have to come out with our hair on fire tomorrow and play better baseball."

After the seventh, New Mexico held GCU scoreless while adding three insurance runs to take the first game of the series. The two-game series will conclude on Wednesday, March 15, at Brazell Stadium starting at 2 p.m. between the Lopes and the Lobos.