Lopes defeat Hornets in series finale

Sunday, May 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

12 P.M.

Grand Canyon

23-26-1, 0

Sacramento State

28-23, 0

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

5/15/2016 2:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jake Hernandez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon baseball team snapped a six-game losing streak, defeating Sacramento State, 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Lopes improve to a 23-26-1 record on the season and 11-13 in WAC play. GCU combined for nine hits, including two doubles and a triple.

"I thought the biggest key today was that we played with energy," Pitching coach Nathan Choate said. "You can see it in the dugout that we played with some fight. We have been struggling in just about every category as of late but we stuck together and made pitches when we need to make pitches. We also got the hits we needed and played very good defense. It was a great team win."

In his ninth start of the season, Tyler Wyatt tossed 6.1 innings, allowing three runs off only three hits and three strikeouts. The freshman pitched 5.2 innings of no-hit ball before giving up a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. Mick Vorhof ultimately earned his fifth victory in 2.2 innings of relief. The sophomore yielded one hit and strikeout the side in the top of the ninth to end the game.

In Paul Panaccione's return to the lineup, the senior went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Zach Malis was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI's and a run scored.

"It felt great to back," Panaccione said. "It was tough to watch the 15 games that I missed but it was great to be back out there. There isn't a time to be rusty with only four games left and I stepped in there and got back into my groove."

In the bottom of the second, Malis got the first hit of the game in an early pitching duel. It was not until the bottom of the fourth for the first run of the game as Panaccoine got things started for the Lopes with a double to left field. Malis followed with an RBI single to score the first run of the game. Next up to bat, Haggerty ripped an RBI triple to deep left field to extend the Lopes' lead to 2-0.

Wyatt took his no-hitter into the sixth inning but gave up a two-run homer by Chris Lewis to tie the ball game. In the bottom of the sixth, the Lopes responded after back-to-back singles putting runners on the corners. GCU broke the tie after a fielder's choice by Malis scoring Panaccione as the Lopes took a 3-2 lead.

The Hornets had a response in the bottom of the seventh to even the score. The Hornets' James Outman doubled to deep right field, tying the game 3-3 that ended Wyatt's day as Vorhof took over on the mound for the Lopes.

The Lopes faced Sacramento State's Tlyer Beardsley, one of the best relief pitchers in the Western Athletic Conference with a 0.96 ERA entering today's game in the bottom of the eighth. A single by Thomas Lerouge and international walk by Panaccione got the inning started for the Lopes. An RBI double by Garrison Schwartz broke the tie as the Lopes took a 4-3 lead. The Lopes continued to threaten the Hornets with bases loaded but were unable to hit across a run to break open the game.

The Lopes play their last home game on Tuesday, May 17 at 2 p.m. before traveling to face UTRGV in the final series of the season. The team will honor its eight seniors before the start of the game.