Late surge lifts Lopes past LMU

Tuesday, May 15

Los Angeles, Calif.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

30-22

Loyola Marymount

21-28

Grand Canyon

LMU

5/15/2018 10:09:00 PM | Baseball

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16-hit night punctuated by 6-run 7th

By: Josh Hauser

LOS ANGELES - Grand Canyon scored eight runs in the final third of the game to defeat Loyola Marymount 11-5 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Lopes' 16-hit effort tied for the third-most hits in a game this season.

"We just put really good at bats together," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "Quin Cotton just has a good little rhythm going right now. The balls he's squaring up are really good."

Cotton was 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBIs. Both of his hits were of the extra-base variety, including a three-run homer that fueled a six-run seventh inning for GCU to break a 3-3 tie.

Austin Bull, Tyler Wyatt and Griffin Barnes opened the seventh with consecutive base hits, setting the stage for Cotton's three-run blast. Walks helped extend the inning, allowing Bull's second hit of the frame to score two more runs.

The six-run, five-hit seventh inning gave GCU a 9-3 advantage that they would hold through the game. The Lopes added two insurance runs in the eighth after Barnes and Dane Stankiewicz each singled and came around to score.

GCU grabbed an early 2-0 edge back in the first inning after Cotton and Pikai Winchester led the game off with consecutive extra-base hits.

Mike Lundin -- making his first start since Cal State Fullerton on March 17 -- tossed three scoreless innings and struck out six.

"Mike gave us a shot in the arm," Stankiewicz said. "We've talked about who's going to be that guy we need down the stretch here. What I saw today was very encouraging."

Behind Lundin, the Lopes used five relievers. LMU tied the score at 3 after a three-run home run in the fifth, but GCU's offense came surging back and the bullpen minimized the Lions' scoring opportunities. Dalton Chapman, Nick Hull and Coen Wynne each worked scoreless appearances with Hull picking up his first collegiate victory.

"The entire bullpen that came in -- all those young arms did really well," Stankiewicz said. "Coach Dorman has been working really hard to try to help them find a rhythm and find consistency in their delivery. It was good to see. Hopefully they see that and continue to build off of that."

Barnes finished the day with a team-best three hits, leading a GCU attack that saw every starter pick up a hit.

With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, the Lopes will wrap up the regular season with three games at Seattle U beginning on Thursday.