Lopes drop series finale

Saturday, March 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

12-12, 0

Utah Valley

13-12, 0

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

3/26/2016 2:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jake Hernandez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon baseball team dropped the series finale to Utah Valley on Saturday afternoon. After back-to-back extra inning games, the Lopes came up short in the Game 3 against the Wolverines, falling 6-3.

"We are hoping for success, rather than taking it," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "Our mentality right now is just to sit back and hope for something to happen, versus being aggressive and taking advantage of opportunities."

Without going into extra innings, Saturday's contest between UVU and GCU was similar to Friday night's game as the two teams tallied nine total runs. The Wolverines scored the first run in the third inning after back-to-back singles, a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice gave UVU a 1-0 lead over GCU. The Wolverines continued to add to their lead in the top of the fifth as a two-run double gave the Wolverines a 3-0 lead.

The Lopes responded in the fifth inning as a leadoff double by Preston Pavlica got things started. After a walk and single loaded the bases, a fielder's choice got the first run across for the Lopes. GCU was not done scoring as a wild pitch and an RBI double by Brandon Smith tied the game 3-3. But the Wolverines put the game away in the seventh inning after an RBI single and two-run homer gave them a 6-3 lead and never looked back.

In his first start of the season, Mick Vorhof continued to pitch well, tossing 5.0 innings, yielding three runs, two earned against the Wolverines. But Vorhof did not earn the victory as the Lopes had their opportunities, collecting nine hits on day, leaving four runners stranded on the bases.

Paul Panaccione went 3-for-4 on Saturday, his third three-hit game of the season, tying his season high.

"We have to get back to work," Stankiewicz said. "We can't make excuses, we can't feel sorry for ourselves. We are going to have to get back at it on Monday with three good days of practice and get on the bus and head to the next series."

The Lopes continue WAC play as they travel to Bakersfield, Calif. to face CSU Bakersfield in a three-game series starting on Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m.