Wong goes 8; Lopes take opener

Friday, April 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-14, 6-1

Utah Valley

12-16, 4-3

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Slaven Gujic

4/6/2018 8:47:00 PM | Baseball

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GCU scores 4 runs in 5th to beat Utah Valley

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - Jake Wong tossed a career-best 8.0 innings and the Lopes put up four runs in the fifth as Grand Canyon claimed the series opener over Utah Valley 5-2 on Friday night. The Lopes improved to 6-1 in conference play and won their sixth consecutive game at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

Wong's previous long for an outing was 7.1 innings against Northern Colorado on March 31, 2017.

"I felt great," Wong said. "This is probably one of the best my whole body and my arm has felt. It was obviously nice to get my career high in innings pitched and grind out a W here."

Wong improved to 5-1 on the season while striking out seven.

"Jake pitched his butt off for us," first baseman Ian Evans said. "We just tried to get a couple runs for him. We found a way to get some runs when we needed to. One of the best pitchers I've been around. He's always composed, ready to go. Nothing really fazes him."

GCU scratched across a run in the first inning. Griffin Barnes led things off with a single, moved to second on a bunt, and scored when Austin Bull's ball to first base was mishandled.

It was a defensive play that swung the game's momentum in GCU's favor. After a leadoff single in the fifth, Marc Mumper started a 6-4-3 double play that had to be perfectly executed to work. Bull quickly made the turn and threw to first to record the twin killing.

"That's a credit to long hours out on the half-field and countless ground balls by Coach Stank and Dorman and all those guys," Wong said. "I was a little surprised as well. I thought we were going to get one for sure out, but Bull turned and fired, and it certainly got me pumped up."

From his viewpoint at first base, Evans thought it would be a routine one-out fielder's choice as well.

"On that play I thought we were just going to get one for sure," Evans said. "Next thing you know, they turn that thing and we get two out of it. It was a good momentum shift for us and a great play."

The momentum turned into runs as the Lopes pushed across four more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Tyler Wyatt legged out an infield single, Barnes drew a walk, and Mumper's sacrifice bunt was so well placed that he ended up on first with a single.

After Pikai Winchester drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to put a run on the board, Evans came up with the clutch hit of the inning. The senior singled through the left side to score two runs and give GCU a 4-0 edge.

"We feel like one through nine, we just want to put good at bats together," Evans said. "We feel like we've been doing that lately, having quality at bats and swinging at our pitches."

GCU tacked on one more run in the inning when a Zach Malis infield pop-up found green grass between three Utah Valley fielders.

The only two runs that Wong allowed to the Wolverines on the night came after the long offensive half-inning.

"That sixth inning I had to refocus and regather myself after a long inning," Wong said. "I have to come out a little sharper with a little more focus in that seventh. Credit to my teammates, they played great defense tonight and the offense swung the bats well."

Wong effectively worked out of jams in the sixth and eighth innings to keep GCU's lead intact. The junior scattered 11 base hits, but limited Utah Valley to just two runs, tying their lowest run output in conference play.

Mick Vorhof closed things out with three ground balls in the ninth inning, recording his third save of the season -- all coming in the last two weeks.

Evans extended his team-leading hit streak to 15 games.

The two teams will meet again at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark for Game 2 on Saturday afternoon. LHP Jake Repavich (1-2, 7.94 ERA) is set to face Utah Valley RHP Walker Ramsey (2-3, 7.28). First pitch is set for 2 p.m.