Big innings prove too much for GCU in opener

Friday, March 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-7

San Francisco

9-5

San Francisco

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Michael Rincon

3/10/2017 10:44:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - Two crooked-number innings of six runs and five runs proved too much of a hole to overcome for Grand Canyon, falling to San Francisco 13-6 in the opener of a three-game series at Brazell Stadium on Friday night. Offense wasn't the issue for the Lopes, who -- for the fourth consecutive game -- posted double digits in the hits column.

"It's kind of been our achilles heel here early. We've not been able to stop the bleeding," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We didn't play particularly good defense behind Degan (Harte) when he needed it, and that's part of being a good team is picking up your teammates. It put him in a tough spot. This wasn't all about pitching today. We did a poor job of handling the baseball."

A few errors cost the Lopes in some big spots throughout the night, contributing to big offensive innings for San Francisco. After a three-run home run, an error extended the inning as USF went on to post six runs in the fourth. In the seventh, an errant throw caused two unearned runs to come across the plate for the visitors.

"We always talk about playing a complete nine on both sides of the ball," Stankiewicz said. "We just couldn't put a complete game together. You see the results."

GCU took the early lead with a quick run in the bottom of the first inning. Austin Bull led off the frame with a hit, moved to third on a single from Greg Saenz, and scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Garrison Schwartz.

After absorbing a two-run scoring inning from San Francisco, GCU scored two of its own to quickly reclaim its lead in the third. The Lopes used singles from Griffin Barnes, Kona Quiggle and Bull as well as an RBI groundout from Saenz.

San Francisco posted its first big inning in the fourth, scoring six runs on five hits to grab an 8-3 lead.

The five-run deficit did not deter the Lopes, who scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings to pull within two runs. A big two-out, two-RBI hit from Quiggle highlighted the Lopes' scoring.

"I really like the jobs Kona and Cuba (Bess) have done," Stankiewicz said. "They're both freshman and they continue to put nice at bats together. Cuba is a tough out. He's got a good offensive approach for just a freshman. Kona is going to have to continue get those good opportunities and put some at bats together."

But with the game in arm's reach for Grand Canyon, San Francisco delivered the knock-out blow with a five-run seventh.

Grand Canyon used six pitchers to get through the contest. Josh Andrews, Gabe Benavides and Jeramy Smith all turned in scoreless innings for GCU.

The best offensive performances for the Lopes came from the top and the bottom of the lineup card. Bull, the leadoff, and Quiggle, the nine-hole hitter, each recorded three-hit nights along with RBIs. Quiggle improved his team-leading batting average to .361 on the season.

GCU returns to the diamond for Game 2 of the series against San Francisco on Saturday. The Lopes and Dons are set for a 2 p.m. MST first pitch. RHP Jake Wong (2-1, 1.89) takes the hill for GCU opposite of RHP Daniel Slominski (1-1, 2.55).