GCU falls behind early in loss

Saturday, April 14

Edinburg, Texas

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

18-16, 9-2

UTRGV

18-17, 4-4

Grand Canyon

UT Rio Grande Valley

4/14/2018 7:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Loss sets up GCU's first rubber game of 2018

By: Josh Hauser

EDINBURG, Texas - Grand Canyon surrendered four runs in the first inning, and UT Rio Grande Valley didn't look back as the Vaqueros took down the Lopes 9-1 on Saturday night. GCU's four-game conference win streak was snapped.

A night after limiting UTRGV (18-17, 4-4 WAC) to just four hits, the Lopes (18-16, 9-2 WAC) could only manage four hits on Saturday. Pikai Winchester went 2-for-3, representing the Lopes' only multi-hit effort of the night.

Wind played a factor in the Vaqueros' four-run first. The first two batters of the game got on base when wind caused havoc for the GCU defense. UTRGV used five hits to take the early 4-0 lead.

UTRGV extended its lead to 5-0 in the second and blew things open with a three-run fifth to go up 8-0. The Vaqueros scored their final run in the seventh.

GCU's only tally of the night came in the seventh. Preston Pavlica drew a leadoff walk, and Austin Bull picked up the Lopes' lone RBI when he doubled to score Pavlica.

Jorge Flores (5-3, 3.22), the Vaqueros starting pitcher, threw 131 pitches to work his way through 6.2 innings. He allowed the four hits while striking out 10.

The Lopes used four pitchers to get through the game. Jake Repavich (2-3, 7.98) lasted 4.1 innings, recording five strikeouts.

For the first time in 2018, the Lopes will play a rubber match game. In all their series thus far in 2018, the winner of the series has claimed the first two games. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. MST with the Lopes' Ethan Evanko (1-1, 5.04) set to face UTRGV right-hander Chase Adams (4-2, 4.20).