Ohl's complete game leads Lopes

Friday, April 26

Chicago, Ill. / Cougar Stadium

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

22-18, 9-7

Chicago State

10-28, 5-11

Grand Canyon

Chicago State

Photo by: Josh Hauser

4/26/2019 5:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

GCU rolls 10-1, claims 5th straight victory

By: Josh Hauser

CHICAGO — Freshman pitcher Pierson Ohl tossed Grand Canyon's first nine-inning complete game in nearly three years as the Lopes cruised to their fifth straight win, a 10-1 victory Friday at Chicago State.

The GCU right-hander set career highs with nine innings pitched, seven strikeouts and 118 pitches. Ohl was an out away from making it a complete game shutout, allowing Chicago State's only run with two outs in the ninth. He lowered his ERA from 4.42 to 3.94 on the outing.

"It felt pretty different," Ohl said. "Finishing the game, giving (catcher) David (Avitia) a hug after my outing, that's a good feeling."

Ohl was making his third straight series-opening start after junior Kade Mechals saw midweek action out of the bullpen to shift the weekend rotation for GCU (22-18, 9-7 WAC). Ohl has posted a 2.01 ERA since moving to the front of the rotation.

"Coming into this, I knew I had big shoes to fill with Mechals' amazing outings all year," Ohl said. "So pitching on Fridays means a lot to me and looking to fill his shoes was my goal."

The Simi Valley, Calif., native tossed the first nine-inning complete game by a Lopes pitcher since Cameron Brendel did so against Sacramento State on May 13, 2016. Ohl is the first GCU freshman to throw a nine-inning complete game since Andrew Naderer on May 26, 2013.

"Pierson filled it up today," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He pitched to contact and got some strikeouts. He's getting better and better and better every outing. It was encouraging to see him fill it up and get after it."

Ohl held a comfortable lead over Chicago State (10-28, 5-11 WAC) even before he took the mound for the first time. Junior right fielder Quin Cotton singled and a misplay in the outfield allowed freshman shortstop Jonny Weaver to score. Junior first baseman Kona Quiggle cleaned things up with a three-run home run to straightaway center to put GCU in front 4-0 before an out was recorded.

"That was certainly encouraging to get that," Stankiewicz said. "Those four guys put some good at bats together and got in front. Runs come at a premium."

The combination of Ohl on the hill and the Lopes' strong defense kept the Cougars off the board through eight innings. Senior center fielder Preston Pavlica threw out a runner at home plate to hold Chicago State scoreless in the fourth. Senior third baseman Tyler Wyatt started the day with a cross-country flight due to his commencement ceremony but showed no ill effects when he made a diving stop and threw the runner out at first to end the fifth.

"We played really good defense," Stankiewicz said. "We never really gave them an opportunity to get back in it. That's what good defense does. That's what good pitching does."

The Lopes again did not commit an error, having made just one in their previous four games.

GCU added to its 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Pavlica and Weaver led off the inning with hits, setting up senior designated hitter Pikai Winchester to score a run on a sacrifice fly. Cotton's third hit of the day — a double to left-center — plated another.

The Lopes capped the day with another four-run inning in the ninth. Weaver and Winchester each doubled to put a run on the board before a Quiggle sacrifice fly scored another. Sophomore left fielder Brock Burton lifted the Lopes to the 10-run mark with a two-run homer to right-center for his second home run of the season.

GCU reached the double-digit hit mark for the sixth time in the past seven games. The top three batters in the lineup — Weaver, Winchester and Cotton — each had multiple hits with Cotton leading the charge with three. Quiggle had four RBIs for the fourth time this season.

The Lopes, the nation's No. 5 team for doubles, matched their season high with six on the afternoon.

GCU and Chicago State reconvene on Saturday for Game 2 of the three-game series at noon (Phoenix time).