Lopes downed by two masterful pitching performances

Saturday, March 19

Houston, Texas

12:30 P.M.

Grand Canyon

10-8

Houston

11-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Houston	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	X	5	8	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
Houston	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	X	3	9	1

3/19/2016 1:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Josh Hauser

HOUSTON - While Grand Canyon's pitching staff allowed just six combined earned runs on the day, the Lopes' offensive lineup struggled against two of the nation's top pitchers as GCU went 0-2 in a doubleheader against Houston on Saturday. Grand Canyon's WAC-leading offense could only muster three combined hits between the two games, losing by scores of 5-0 and 3-1.

Game 1: Grand Canyon fell victim to a complete game shutout for the second time in the past eight days, dropping the series opener to Houston 5-0. Locked in a pitcher's duel through six innings, the Cougars pulled away with four runs off of the GCU bullpen in the seventh to seal the victory.

Jorge Perez had his best outing of the season, limiting Houston to no earned runs in six innings of work. The right-hander racked up nine strikeouts in the process, falling one shy of a career high. Perez was handed the tough-luck loss as he exited with a 1-0 deficit after Houston scored a run on a passed ball.

In the third inning, Thomas Lerouge flashed his speed by legging out an infield single and proceeding to steal second base. But the Lopes' center fielder was left stranded at second base. Unfortunately for Grand Canyon, it was the only time the Lopes would put a runner in scoring position.

Andrew Lantrip, who now features a Division I-leading 39-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, faced just two over the minumum on the afternoon for Houston, retiring the final 19 batters he faced. Lantrip struck out seven and walked none.

Houston scored the game's first run in the fifth, as a one-out triple by Connor Hollis came into score on a passed ball. Perez struck out the final two batters of the frame to limit the damage to just one run.

The Cougars broke the game open in the seventh off of Grand Canyon reliever Cameron Brendel, who allowed four runs on four hits in one inning of work. Houston exited the frame with a 5-0 lead and, with as sharp as Lantrip was on the mound, had effectively put the game out of reach.

Game 2: In a similar storyline to the series opener, the Lopes' offense was stifled by a brilliant starting pitching performance from Houston. Grand Canyon was limited to one run on one hit as the Lopes fell to the Cougars 3-1. Houston has now claimed wins in 8 of its last 9 games.

Houston starter Seth Romero tossed the Cougars' second complete game of the day and recorded 13 strikeouts while walking two. Houston starters combined for 18.0 innings, one run and three hits over the course of the doubleheader.

The Cougars opened the scoring in the contest with a pair of runs in the third inning. The first three batters of the inning reached with a run scoring on an infield single and another coming into score on a sacrifice fly.

Grand Canyon responded the following inning with a run of its own. The Lopes loaded the bases with a drawn walk by Austin Bull, a single by Paul Panaccione and a sacrifice bunt turned error from Tyler Wyatt. Preston Pavlica drove in the Lopes' first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to deep left field, but GCU stranded a pair of runners on base without any additional scoring.

The Cougars tacked on an insurance run in the sixth via back-to-back doubles.

GCU starter Ethan Evanko tossed 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. Zebastian Valenzuela was effective in relief, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits.

The Lopes will look to salvage one game in their three-game series with the Cougars on Sunday with first pitch set for 11 a.m. Jake Repavich (2-0, 1.00 ERA) will get the nod for Grand Canyon while John King (2-1, 4.58 ERA) climbs the hill for the Cougars.