GCU gets second shutout over UTRGV

Friday, May 20

Edinburg, Texas

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

25-27-1, 13-13

UTRGV

20-28, 9-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	5	0	1	0	3	0	1	10	15	0
UT Rio Grande Valley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1

5/20/2016 6:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

EDINBURG, Texas – For the second straight game, Grand Canyon baseball would run-rule UT Rio Grande Valley 10-0. The Lopes pitching staff shutout the Vaqueros for the second straight game as GCU improves to .500 in the conference (13-13) and 25-27-1 overall.

"We played well in all three areas tonight," assistant coach Nathan Choate said. "We want to finish over .500 in conference and we have a chance to achieve one of our goals. It is exciting that we are finishing the season well and we want to end the season with a sweep."

Every batter in GCU's lineup recorded at least one hit led by Thomas Lerouge with three hits. In his final start in his freshman campaign, Jake Wong took the mound for GCU and had a no-hitter through 4.1 innings. It was the fifth time that the freshman from Hamilton high school went at least 5.0 innings, allowing just two hits and struck out four batters, tying a career-high. Wong was able to throw off UTRGV's hitter as it was the fewest amount of hits Wong has allowed in five innings or more this season.

For the third straight game, GCU was able to jump on its opponent early, scoring in the first inning. The Lopes scored five runs in the first inning, the most the team has scored in the 1st all season. After Paul Panaccione got the first hit of the game, he would later be rewarded by Zach Malis as he doubled down left field for his 24th RBI of the season. The scoring continued for GCU as Matt Haggerty hit his first home run of the season, with a shot to left center scoring three runs. For the final run of the inning, Jared McDonald singled to right field, scoring Krysthian Leal to make it 5-0 in GCU's favor.

In the last five games, Haggerty has brought in nine RBIs and four in this series. The junior also extends his hitting streak to five games, tying the longest streak of his career at GCU.

"We are starting to play well and I just want to help the team any way I can," Haggerty said. "The coaches have helped me get a good approach at the plate and it has helped me see the ball well these past few games."

Picking up his first hit since May 6, Austin Bull would tack on a run in the third inning with a single, scoring Haggerty for his 20th RBI this season.

UTRGV looked to make some noise and get back in the ball game in the bottom of the fifth loading up the bases with just one out. Wong let his defense do the work behind him as he got a ground ball go to second base where Bull turned a double play along with Panaccione to end the inning without allowing UTRGV to score.

GCU made it 10 runs in the top of the seventh inning when Panaccione brought in his 26th RBI of the season with a single, scoring Bull to make it a 10-0 game.

After five innings, Jaren Drummond replaced Wong on the mound and continued GCU's exceptional pitching in Edinburg. The senior struck out the final batter to end the game, concluding two scoreless innings, throwing two strikeouts.

GCU will conclude its three-game series with the Vaqueros on Saturday, May 21, at 10 a.m. Arizona time.