Resolute Lopes fall by 1

Sunday, February 24

Fort Worth, Texas / Lupton Stadium

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-4

TCU

5-2

Grand Canyon

TCU

Photo by: Ron Jenkins

2/24/2019 4:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU recovers from Saturday loss, Sunday deficit to play competitively

By: Josh Hauser

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Grand Canyon baseball team recovered from Saturday's lopsided defeat and an early 5-0 hole on Sunday, making a comeback before falling 6-5 to No. 18 TCU.

The Lopes' rally came closer than ever after a seventh-inning two-out rally. Senior first baseman Pikai Winchester reached on a passed ball before junior left fielder Kona Quiggle doubled to left to put two players in scoring position. Pinch hitter Jonny Weaver doubled in both runs for the freshman's first career hit, narrowing GCU's deficit to 6-5.

An inning later, still trailing 6-5, GCU freshman Jake Jarvis came through with a two-out pinch-hit single off hard-throwing TCU reliever Marcelo Perez. Turning the lineup card over, junior outfielder Quin Cotton doubled to right field, but junior pinch runner Dane Stankiewicz was thrown out at home plate attempting to advance three bases on the hit. The out call stood after a coach's challenge.

After going down 5-0 with the Horned Frogs' two-run second and three-run third innings, GCU began chipping away at the deficit when it plated its first run in the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Tyler Wyatt reached on a one-out error, paving the way for three straight Lopes hits to lead to runs. Sophomore designated hitter Cuba Bess, senior center fielder Preston Pavlica and sophomore catcher David Avitia strung together three consecutive hits, with RBIs attached to the final two. Senior shortstop Marc Mumper capped off the inning's scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Pavlica and cut TCU's lead to 5-3.

The Lopes could not complete the comeback, going down in order in the ninth.

TCU did much of its damage via first baseman Jake Guenther. The junior hit a two-run homer in the first and an RBI double in the third, ending the three-game series with three doubles and two home runs.

The three-game series marked the second consecutive season that the Lopes were a one-run loss away from taking a series from the Horned Frogs.

As with the series-opening win on Friday, relief pitching was strong for GCU. Friday's bullpen trio of Coen Wynne, Cole Hoskins and Nick Ohanian returned on Sunday, combining to throw three scoreless innings with only two hits allowed.

Sophomore Frankie Scalzo tossed the first five frames and was charged with the six TCU runs to score.

With a visit to another Power 5 opponent looming next weekend, the Lopes will first return to Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark for midweek action against UC Riverside on Tuesday at 6 p.m.