GCU bats go cold in doubleheader

Saturday, February 25

Wichita, Kansas

11:00 a.m.

Grand Canyon

2-2

Wichita State

4-0

Grand Canyon

Wichita State

2/25/2017 5:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score - G1 (PDF)Box Score - G2 (PDF)

By: Josh Hauser

WICHITA, Kan. - The Lopes bats went cold in the frigid temperatures, as Grand Canyon lost both games in a doubleheader to Wichita State on Saturday afternoon. In 18 innings, GCU couldn't scratch across a run.

Game 1

The Lopes fell to Wichita State, 1-0, in a pitcher's duel to begin a three-game series.

Picking up right where he left off on opening night, Lopes starter Jake Wong tossed a great game. The right-hander limited Wichita State to one first-inning run before going on to toss six additional scoreless innings while striking out four. Wong was handed the tough-luck loss to fall to 1-1 on the season.

It was a busy opening inning for both starting pitchers. The Lopes forced Wichita State starter Willie Schwanke to throw 30 pitches in the first inning with Garrison Schwartz reaching on an error and Ian Evans drawing a walk. GCU was held scoreless in the frame.

The Shockers quickly got to work off of GCU's Jake Wong in the first with the first two runners reaching on a double and an error. Although Wichita State pushed across a run on a double play, it emptied the bases and ended the initial multi-run threat of the inning.

Freshman Kona Quiggle, the nine-hole hitter, recorded Grand Canyon's first base hit of the day to begin the sixth inning. Austin Bull promptly singled through the right side, setting up an opportune scoring threat for GCU. However, after a failed sacrifice bunt attempt and a double play, the inning was promptly ended without a score.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Preston Pavlica laced a sharp single into left field. This prompted a move to the bullpen for Wichita State, ending Schwanke's day after 91 pitches. The Shockers' bullpen recorded the final out of the seventh.

Grand Canyon's scoring opportunities continued late into the game, with perhaps its best one coming in the top of the eighth inning. Quiggle and Bull once again strung together consecutive base hits with just one away. One out later, both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Schwartz. Unfortunately for the visitors, Wichita State gloved a foul out to third base to once again end GCU's scoring threat without a run.

In relief of Wong, AJ Franks used just five pitches to set the Shockers down in the eighth and keep it a one-run ballgame for the Lopes. But GCU went down in order in the ninth to fall behind in the series 1-0.

Quiggle and Bull each recorded their second multi-hit game of the season, accounting for four of the Lopes' five hits on the day.

Game 2

The storyline from Game 1 continued into the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Lopes put several extended at bats together, forcing Wichita State starting pitcher Cody Tyler to throw more pitches than he would have hoped early. However, Wichita State once againt keet GCU off of the scoreboard.

The Shockers plated an early run in the second inning after a leadoff walk came around to score on an RBI single. Two wild pitches by Harte in the inning didn't help his own cause as Wichita State took the early lead.

Marc Mumper, in his first start of the young season, singled to right for the Lopes first hit of the day to lead off the third frame. However, after a pop up, strikeout and ground out, the sophomore was stranded.

The Shockers tacked on three additional runs in a troublesome fourth inning for Harte. He allowed three hits and hit two batters as the Shockers grabbed a 4-0 lead.

GCU missed a golden opportunity to get back into the game in the top of the seventh. Zach Malis and Tyler Wyatt both got aboard via base hits while Pavlica drew a walk to load the bases. Although Schwartz was able to draw a full count, he struck out to end the threat.

The Lopes' bullpen prevented Wichita State from any further damage, as Gabe Benavides, Zack McLeod and Josh Andrews combined to toss four scoreless frames.

While Grand Canyon was able to compile seven hits in Game 2, the Wichita State pitching staff did a good job of scattering all seven hits. The Lopes didn't have more than two hits in any single inning.

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The two clubs will play tomorrow's finale at 12 p.m. MST as the Lopes look to salvage one game in the series. Grand Canyon will send left-hander Jake Repavich (1-0, 0.00) to the mound.