GCU handed first conference loss

Saturday, April 8

Sacramento, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-17, 7-1

Sacramento State

15-15, 3-5

Grand Canyon

Sacramento State

Photo by: Rhett Hutchins

4/8/2017 7:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Josh Hauser

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Grand Canyon baseball team suffered its first loss in conference play on Saturday night, falling to Sacramento State 7-1 at John Smith Field. The Lopes' offense was limited to just one run on four hits in the loss. Meanwhile, the Hornets used a four-run fourth inning to put GCU in an early hole.

The Lopes scored their only run of the contest in the top of the eighth inning. Marc Mumper opened the frame with a double down the left field line. The sophomore moved to third on a fly ball to the outfield and came into score on an RBI groundout by Tom Lerouge.

Unfortunately, the one-run output wasn't enough to get the job done as Grand Canyon dropped to 7-1 in conference games.

Grand Canyon starting pitcher Jake Repavich faced just one over the minimum through the first three innings, but the Hornets broke through in the fourth. Sacramento State was able to string together four consecutive two-out hits, capped off by a two-run homer off the bat of Vinny Esposito.

Esposito hit his second two-run home run of the game in the sixth inning to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead.

GCU's 7-0 start to WAC play matched its best start to a conference schedule in program history. The Lopes also started 7-0 in 1999 before also falling in their eighth conference game.

Grand Canyon faces its first rubber match of conference play in Sunday's series finale at Sacramento State. LHP Jack Schneider (2-0, 3.60) gets the start for the Lopes, facing RHP Max Karnos (0-3, 5.60). First pitch is set for noon.