Pavlica, Lopes walk-off Penn State

Friday, March 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-8

Penn State

4-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Penn St.	1	1	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	7	11	0
Grand Canyon	0	1	0	0	3	0	3	0	1	8	11	3

3/9/2018 10:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Pavlica uses bases loaded sac-fly to bring in winning run in ninth inning

By: Fletcher Like

PHOENIX - A flair for the dramatic is becoming a trend for the Lopes as the baseball team used a walk-off sacrifice fly to win the second game of a three-game series against Penn State. Grand Canyon trailed for six innings but led when it mattered most, at the end.

"Wasn't pretty," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "That is how I would describe it, but it's a win and wins are a premium, so we will take it.

"We have to handle the ball better, we made some errors to start innings and they became runs by the end."

The Lopes opened up the ninth inning with a leadoff walk by Kona Quiggle, who was then moved to third base on a single from Quin Cotton. With runners on the corners and nobody out, the Nittany Lions intentionally walked Ian Evans to load the bases.

Preston Pavlica stepped into the batter's box after a Penn State defensive change that resulted in two outfielders and five infielders. Pavlica didn't let the change of scenery in the infield affect him as he lifted a 2-2 pitch into right field that was deep enough to score Quiggle from third.

"Bases loaded situation, I knew they wanted me to chase," Pavlica said. "They threw me a couple sliders in the dirt and I wasn't going after them, I was looking fastball and with five infielders I was trying to drive the ball in the outfield somewhere. I knew Quiggle was on third with speed and I could drive him in and I did."

The run capped off an eight-run game in which the Lopes sprayed 11 hits around the ballpark including two home runs.

Five Lopes pitchers came out of the bullpen, and four threw scoreless innings. Three of the five combined to throw 3.1 innings of hitless baseball. The bullpen did not allow a Penn State hit in the final two innings.

"I'm really pleased with our bullpen, they came in and did a really nice job, held the fort down for us and gave us a chance to get back into the game," Stankiewicz said.

Second baseman Pikai Winchester finished with a 3-for-3 day and two RBIs scoring Pavlica and Evans, tying the ballgame in the seventh.

"I saw the ball really well, so it gave myself an opportunity to put the ball in play and anything can happen when you put the ball in play," Winchester said.

Catcher Griffin Barnes also finished the night with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Lopes didn't start particularly well, giving up a run in the top of the first and second inning.

In the first inning, Penn State came out swinging early in counts and the Nittany Lions were able to get the first two batters on base with that strategy. A defensive error by the Lopes plated the first run for the visitors.

In the second inning, the Nittany Lions used a two-out walk, a stolen base and then a single to center to score their second run of the game.

In the Lopes half of the second, Grand Canyon pushed a run across using back-to-back-to-back singles from Winchester, Tyler Wyatt and Barnes to plate Winchester.

Two innings later Penn State struck again, this time for three runs on two hits, a hit by pitch, a walk, and the Lopes' second error of the game.

GCU countered the Penn State three-spot with a three-spot of their own in the fifth. A lead-off single up the middle from Griffin Barnes got things started before Zach Malis came in as a pinch-hitter and sent a 3-2 pitch out over the fence in right, Malis' first home run of the year. Two batters later, Quiggle sent another 3-2 pitch out to right field and his hit left the yard as well, Quiggle's first career home run.

Again the visitors took advantage of a Lopes error, scoring in the seventh inning on a bunt single. The next batter for the Nittany Lions drove in the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Marc Mumper singled to center with one out. Quiggle then walked, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Ian Evans pinch-hit for Brock Burton and plated Mumper from second with a single to center. Pavlica reached base via a walk which loaded the bases for Winchester. Winchester came through with his two RBI's, scoring Quiggle and Evans to tie the game.

The win secures a series win against Penn State with the series finale beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.