Lerouge's walk-off backs up Brendel's impressive start

Thursday, March 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 P.M.

Grand Canyon

12-10, 0

Utah Valley

11-12, 0

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Lerouge's walk-off backs up Brendel's impressive start

3/24/2016 11:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - Thomas Lerouge hit a ground ball through the hole at shortstop allowing pinch runner Marc Mumper to score from second and grant the Lopes a 2-1, extra-inning, walk-off win in the conference opener against Utah Valley on Thursday night. The walk-off single from Lerouge marked his second walk-off hit of the season and third game-winning hit of the year.

"Tommy knows who he is. In that situation, it's just give us a chance," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He has done a nice job in these situations of not trying to do too much, keep a nice, short swing, barrel it up, and see where it goes. That was a big hit right there to win it."

Senior Cameron Brendel pitched a gem in his first start of the season. The right-hander threw 8.0 scoreless innings, limiting the Wolverines to five hits and one walk. Brendel used a pickoff in a key situation in the seventh to keep Utah Valley off the board through his eight innings of work.

"He was more aggressive with his fastball," Stankiewicz said. "We needed that in a big way and he stepped up big time for us. It was really encouraging to see what he did tonight. He was aggressive, attacked the zone and let us play defense behind him."

The Lopes tallied the first run of the game in the second inning. Garrison Schwartz drilled a ball off the right field wall and wheeled into third with a leadoff triple. Zach Malis drove in Schwartz on a double down the left field line to grant the Lopes the early 1-0 lead. With Brendel for GCU and Patrick Wolfe for Utah Valley both keeping the opponent's offenses in check, the 1-0 score held until the top of the ninth inning.

After a 111-pitch performance from Brendel, the Lopes turned to their bullpen in the ninth. The Wolverines used a single and a double early in the frame to allow a sacrifice fly by Ryne Edmonson to plate the tying run. Grand Canyon's winning run was tagged out at home plate on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth, and the Lopes were playing extra innings for the first time in 2016.

In the top of the 10th, Paul Panaccione made a brilliant diving catch on a liner to keep the tie intact and set the stage for the Lopes to win in walk-off fashion in the 11th. Greg Saenz singled to left field and Griffin Barnes drew a two-out walk. On a 2-1 count, Lerouge poked a ball through the hole, slow-rolling enough for Mumper to score from second base.

"Their pitcher was good," Stankiewicz said of Wolfe. "We felt like we had some opportunities that we let slip away in those middle innings. But we pulled through in the end."

AJ Franks picked up the win on the mound after posting zeros in the 10th and 11th.

Grand Canyon and Utah Valley will meet up again on Friday night at Brazell Stadium. The Lopes will send out left-hander Jake Repavich (2-1, 1.65 ERA) and will be opposed by Utah Valley's Danny Beddes (3-2, 3.28 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 p.m.