Late grand slam sinks GCU in second game

Saturday, March 4

Moraga, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-6

Saint Mary's

7-2

Grand Canyon

Saint Mary's (CA)

3/4/2017 2:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Josh Hauser

MORAGA, Calif. - Grand Canyon held an early 5-1 lead in Game 2 of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon. But Saint Mary's got to the Lopes' bullpen late, scoring five runs in its last two times at bat including a grand slam to defeat GCU 8-6.

The big blow came in the seventh when Grand Canyon starting pitcher Jake Repavich turned things over to the bullpen after 6.0 innings. Saint Mary's methodically loaded the bases on a walk, hit batsmen and single. Edward Haus stepped in and hit the grand slam, driving in four runs. With the hit, Saint Mary's turned its two-run deficit into a two-run lead.

"We are learning a tough lesson early in the season that you can't play good baseball only in spurts," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "It's a nine-inning game, and we have to get better at good, consistent play for the entire game."

Saint Mary's captured the early lead with a single tally in the first, but Repavich and the GCU defense did an outstanding job of limiting the damage. Two of the first three Gaels' batters recorded extra-base hits. Saint Mary's singled twice later in the inning, but Ian Evans threw to Josh Meyer at the plate on a bunt attempt to prevent another score. The Gaels exited the inning with just a 1-0 lead.

"Jake Repavich did a nice job of competing today," Stankiewicz said. "He gave us six solid innings. Unfortunately his effort didn't hold up."

Grand Canyon posted its biggest run-scoring inning of the season in the top of the third. To load the bases, Kona Quiggle, Austin Bull and Greg Saenz all singled. The Lopes tied the score as Schwartz was hit by a pitch. Evans came through with the highlight of the inning, doubling to right-center and pushing across two more runs. Cuba Bess picked up an RBI on a groundout, while Evans scored the fifth and final run of the frame on a wild pitch. GCU's five runs granted them a 5-1 lead.

An inning later, Saint Mary's cut into GCU's lead with a pair of runs. With a leadoff home run and an RBI double later in the frame, the Gaels slashed the Lopes lead in half, trailing 5-3.

Grand Canyon got one run back in the eighth on an RBI single by a pinch-hitting Zach Malis to score Quin Cotton who had doubled. The Lopes pulled within a run at 7-6, but that was as close as they would come.

Three Lopes batters had two-hit days in Saenz, Evans and Quiggle.

Despite exiting the game with a lead, Repavich got the no decision after 6.0 innings of eight-hit, three-run baseball. It was the first time this season that GCU's starting pitcher received a no decision.

The Lopes look to salvage the series with a win in Sunday's finale. First pitch from Saint Mary's is set for 1 p.m. MST with Jake Wong climbing the hill for the Lopes (1-1, 0.69).