Brendel throws complete game and shuts out UTRGV

Thursday, May 19

Edinburg, Texas

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

24-27-1, 12-13

UTRGV

20-27, 9-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	2	0	2	0	2	0	4	10	13	0
UT Rio Grande Valley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	2

5/19/2016 8:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

EDINBURG, Texas – Grand Canyon baseball could not have asked for a better start to its three-game series against UT Rio Grande Valley with a 10-0 win over the Vaqueros. Five of GCU's players had two or more hits as they improve to 24-27-1 this season and 12-13 in the WAC while Cameron Brendel pitched a gem for the Lopes throwing a complete game, not allowing the Vaqueros to score a run in seven innings.

"Give credit to Cameron (Brendel) because he set the tone for us tonight," assistant coach Gregg Wallis said. "We were able to get a couple of ground balls and from there our offense was able to roll throughout the night."

In his final start at GCU, senior Brendel put an exclamation point on his career, throwing the seven inning shutout. Brendel jumped on batters from the start and set the tempo, allowing just seven hits and struck out four. It was Brendel's second straight complete game. In his final 16 innings pitching for the Lopes, Brendel allowed just four runs and struck out eight batters.

"I wanted to end my GCU career with a bang," Brendel said in his final start wearing GCU across his chest.

Brendel also let his defense do the work behind him, as GCU's defense forced 11 ground outs and five fly outs.

"Coming to GCU was the best decision of my life and I wanted pitch well for my teammates in my final game," Brendel said. "My defense has been stellar all year and tonight they were amazing. It was great tonight because we were out on the field having fun."

The Lopes got off to a solid start, scoring in the first inning for the second straight game. After Thomas Lerouge doubled for his sixth straight hit in the past two games, Garrison Schwartz would single to bring in Lerouge for his 34th RBI of the season. With two outs in the first, the freshman, Zach Malis, would step up with another single to bring in Schwartz. The freshman now has 23 RBIs this season.

The Lopes would tack on two more runs in the top of the third to extend its lead to 4-0. After Lerouge got on base for the second straight time, the sophomore would score on a wild pitch, while Panaccione advanced to third. To pick up his 19th RBI of the season, Brandon Smith would single to left field, scoring Panaccione.

"It was nice to see us stay aggressive the entire night because UTRGV threw out a very good starting pitcher," Wallis added. "We were able to make contact towards the middle of the field and drive in runs so it is a good start for us this series."

GCU continued scoring in the odd innings, adding two more runs in the fifth. Schwartz continued his hot streak with a single to bring in Panaccione and Jared McDonald for his second and third RBI of the game. Three hits for Schwartz was his 16th multi-hit game of the season.

Looking to take advantage of UTRGV on the base path, GCU stole six bases against UTRGV's defense. Malis led the way with two stolen bases as GCU tied a season-high for the most stolen bases in a game for the squad this season.

Matt Haggerty continues his hot streak at the dish with a single in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded, scoring Schwartz to make it 7-0 GCU. In the last four games, Haggerty has started at centerfield and has recorded six RBIs. GCU continued its scoring in the seventh when McDonald singled to right field, scoring two runs for his 15th and 16th RBIs of the season.

With three hits, Schwartz extends his hitting streak to nine games after recording his second three-hit game this season. The top of GCU's batting order got it done at the plate as Lerouge, Panaccione and Schwartz went 6-12 at the plate scoring six runs.