Mechals’ career night lifts Lopes

Thursday, March 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-10

Xavier

6-9

Xavier

Grand Canyon

3/14/2019 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

GCU records shutout over Xavier

By: Mark Oshidari

Junior pitcher Kade Mechals set a career high with 11 strikeouts as the Grand Canyon baseball team defeated Xavier 6-0 on Thursday night at GCU Ballpark.

"It was a much-needed, well-played game by us," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "No errors and our pitchers did well. Kade didn't have his best stuff, but I'm proud of the way he competed and fought his way through it. He made some big pitches when he had to and that's a big part of competing."

GCU scored early and often, building a lead for Mechals (4-1), who kept Xavier off the board for six innings. The 11-strikeout mark tied Jake Wong and Coley Bruns for the most strikeouts in a game since GCU's return to Division I in 2014. Wong struck out 11 against Seattle U at the WAC Tournament.

"Today wasn't my best day," Mechals said. "A lot of walks, but I was able to compete. Coach (Rich) Dorman did a great job helping me prepare and exploit Xavier's weaknesses. I was sitting behind the plate yesterday charting pitches and that really helped me learn the Xavier hitters and identify their weaknesses which helped me attack their hitters."

Sophomore pitcher Frankie Scalzo made his first relief appearance of the season and hurled three shutout frames to earn the save.

GCU got on the board first with RBIs by Kona Quiggle, Tyler Wyatt and Marc Mumper put the Lopes ahead 3-0.

The Lopes added a run in the third frame as Quiggle stole third and scored on an errant throw by the Musketeers catcher.

Wyatt recorded his second RBI of the night with a base hit in the fourth inning to push GCU ahead 5-0.

Pikai Winchester, Quiggle and Wyatt recorded two hits apiece as GCU finished with nine hits in the win.

With the win, GCU improves to 7-10 while Xavier drops to 6-9.

GCU is back in action for game three of the four-game set against the Musketeers on Friday night.

"This is a good win, but once we shower up and leave, its over and done with and we have to move on," Stankiewicz said. "I think that's a part of our development. Learning how to flush the negatives and let whatever the day before, whether it was good, bad or different. We know tomorrow is a new day and that is part of the development of our team."