GCU allows big ninth inning

Sunday, March 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-8

Valparaiso

4-6

Valparaiso

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Michael Rincon

3/4/2018 5:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Late-game tie swiftly broken by Valparaiso

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - Grand Canyon fought its way back from an early 5-1 deficit to tie the score in the sixth, but a six-run ninth inning for Valparaiso led to a GCU loss on Sunday afternoon at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

A big two-out double by Griffin Barnes in the home-half of the sixth was the culmination of a four-run GCU comeback. Tyler Wyatt had made it a 5-3 game with a sacrifice fly, paving the way for Barnes' double to the left-center alley to score two runs and tie the game.

Valpo used three walks and three hits -- including a three-run homer -- to score six runs and take control of the game in the ninth.

Staring down a six-run deficit in the home-half of the ninth, the Lopes made things interesting in their final chance at bat. GCU scratched across two runs after the first four batters of the inning reached base successfully. But the Crusaders made a pitching change and quickly ended the rally.

Wyatt was also responsible for GCU's single tallies in the second and fourth innings. The junior hit an RBI single up the middle in the second and an RBI single to left-center in the fourth. He finished with a game-high three RBIs on the day.

In his second career start, Nick Hull worked through 5.0 innings and struck out six. The freshman ran into trouble in the fourth inning where the Crusaders plated four runs. Hull bounced back, however, and tossed a scoreless fifth to end his outing.

GCU hosts three more home games this weekend at GCU Ballpark. The Lopes welcome in Penn State for a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series with the Nittany Lions. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. MST in Thursday's opener.