Malis hits late go-ahead single, Lopes take series

Sunday, April 22

Champaign, Ill.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

22-17

Illinois

24-11

Grand Canyon

Illinois

4/22/2018 12:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

GCU wins Games 1 and 3 against No. 25 Illinois

By: Josh Hauser

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Lopes used a key eighth-inning outburst to break a 2-2 tie and defeat No. 25 Illinois 5-3 in the rubber match finale at Illinois Field. Zach Malis hit a two-out, two-RBI single to put GCU ahead for good.

"It ranks up there pretty highly," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said of the non-conference series. "The fact that we're playing a Big Ten opponent who's really good. To be able to come down here and play really good baseball, that was what was most encouraging.

"We put some good innings on the mound together and we put some good at bats together. I'm really proud of the effort."

Grand Canyon (22-17) limited Illinois (24-11) to three or less runs in each game of the series. The Lopes won their fifth consecutive weekend series.

"Our bullpen was really good all weekend," Stankiewicz said. "That's a huge encouragement as we move forward."

As he did all weekend, Quin Cotton began the offensive rally with a single in the eighth. Amid back-to-back pitching changes, Pikai Winchester was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Malis waited for his pitch and got it on a 3-1 count, driving a hard ground ball back up the middle. Both runners scored and the Lopes took a 4-2 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.

"To see Zach Malis put some good at bats together this weekend and start to drive in some big runs -- we need him," Stankiewicz said. "That's what we're going to need moving forward is good baseball from everybody.."

Tyler Wyatt capped off the inning with a line-drive single to left, scoring Malis and giving GCU its fifth run.

Mick Vorhof mowed down the three batters he faced in the eighth inning but ran into some trouble in the ninth. However, the senior worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam, allowing just one to score. Vorhof drew a double-play ball -- finished off by a great pick at first base from Ian Evans -- to record the first two outs of the inning. A groundball to shortstop put an end to the rally and the game.

"It's something that Mick hasn't done that often," Stankiewicz said of the six-out save. "He needs to know that there's going to be moments where we need two out of him. He's comfortable with one, but there's moments where we'll need two. I think he did a great job of bases loaded, no outs, getting a double play. And then getting the final one. Hopefully he'll see he can be just as comfortable with the six-out save. That was huge for him and for us as a ballclub."

It was Vorhof's fifth save of the year.

The Lopes were the first on the board, scoring twice in the fourth inning. Cotton doubled to lead things off and scored when Malis also doubled. Wyatt hit a sacrifice fly to put GCU up 2-0.

Illinois scored two runs in the fifth to tie the score before GCU broke the tie with its eighth-inning rally.

Cotton had a three-hit game for the second straight day. The sophomore was 7-for-14 (.500) for the weekend.

"Quin had a nice weekend," Stankiewicz said. "He's starting to do a good job of getting his pitch and working the count a little more. This weekend he was a little more patient, waiting for his pitch to drive. He battled with two-- he had a lot of base hits with two where he kept fouling off pitches and got the knock. He's really developing into a nice hitter."

Ethan Evanko threw five innings, allowing just the two runs. The senior struck out four.

Jeramy Smith and Nick Ohanian each tossed a scoreless frame out of the bullpen with Ohanian picking up the win to improve to 3-2 on the season.

Combined with a sweep of Penn State earlier in the season, GCU improved to 5-1 against Big Ten competition this season.

GCU will return to Phoenix for a five-game homestand against the New Mexico schools. First, the Lopes will play host to New Mexico for a two-game mid-week series beginning on Tuesday night. Then the Lopes will play a pivotal Western Athletic Conference series against New Mexico State over the weekend.