Grand Canyon falls in walk-off

Wednesday, March 15

Las Vegas, Nev.

2:05 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-9

UNLV

9-9

Grand Canyon

UNLV

3/15/2017 5:39:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Josh Hauser

LAS VEGAS - A brief, two-game series featured a full series' worth of drama, this time falling in UNLV's favor. The Rebels scored a ninth-inning unearned run to break a 4-4 tie and force a split of the two-game series on Wednesday afternoon.

"I felt like we were a little complacent today," head coach Andy Stankiewciz said. "We won a good one last night, an exciting win. I thought today we came out a little lack-luster. Great teams get a big win, and then they come out the next day and find a way to win another one. We had some opportunities. UNLV is a good-hitting team, so when you put them in favorable situations, they're going to hit."

Josh Sieglitz, in his first collegiate start, threw 2.2 innings. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits while striking out a pair.

"Sieglitz had a nice start," Stankiewicz said. "He did a nice job. When you start playing five games a week, the guys know that we're going to need everybody."

The Rebels led off the ninth inning with a base hit, and, after a sacrifice bunt, GCU intentionally walked a batter. The Lopes had the chance to retire a runner on a fielder's choice in the ensuing at bat, but the throw sailed wide and allowed the winning run to score.

The Lopes began the game's scoring back in the second inning, as Quin Cotton started the inning with a single. When Tyler Wyatt put the ball in play later in the frame, Cotton -- with some heads-up base-running -- was able to score as a ball scooted away from the Rebels' first baseman.

After a leadoff hit batsman came around to score and tie the game for the Rebels, GCU quickly reclaimed its lead with a run in the fourth. Helped along by another UNLV error, Wyatt came in to score on the first career RBI for Dane Stankiewicz on a sacrifice bunt.

However, with a pair of bloop singles followed by a three-run home run by Nick Ames, UNLV jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning.

Grand Canyon worked its way back with solo home runs by Wyatt and Garrison Schwartz. For Wyatt, his sixth-inning homer went to left-center field and marked the first long ball of his career. For Schwartz, a deep shot to straightaway center tied the game in the seventh inning.

Josh Andrews was one of the four GCU pitchers to see action. He tossed 1.1 more innings of scoreless baseball, running his season-opening scoreless inning streak to 5.1 innings.

The Lopes continue their road trip in Malibu, Calif. at Pepperdine. GCU will face the Waves in Friday and Sunday contests, while also facing Long Beach State in a Saturday game. Friday's weekend opener is set for 3 p.m. on Friday against Pepperdine.