Hansen homers in midweek loss

Tuesday, May 7

Fullerton, Calif. / Goodwin Field

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

28-20

Cal State Fullerton

20-24

Grand Canyon

Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: David Cohen

5/7/2019 8:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Freshman's 1st career blast forces early tie

By: Josh Hauser

FULLERTON, Calif. — The Grand Canyon baseball team dropped a midweek contest to Cal State Fullerton 11-3 on Tuesday evening.

For the Lopes (28-20), the game was highlighted by freshman designated hitter Nick Hansen's first career home run. The Orange, Calif., native was minutes away from his hometown when he hit a two-run blast in the second inning to force an early tie. Hansen added a leadoff single in the fifth for his second multi-hit game in as many starts.

Hansen became the third GCU batter to collect his first career home run this season, joining sophomores David Avitia and Brock Burton.

GCU freshman pitcher Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis followed up the two-run second inning with a three-up, three-down frame to keep the early tie intact.

The Titans (20-24) broke the game open with five runs in the third and four more in the fourth. Two walks, a hit batsman and three hits fueled the third inning while three more walks and three more hits accounted for the damage in the fourth.

Freshman shortstop Jonny Weaver and junior right fielder Quin Cotton teamed up to produce the final run of the game in the eighth. Weaver hit a one-out single and came around to score on a two-out hit by Cotton.

The Lopes used five pitchers to navigate the ballgame with sophomore Nick Hull, junior Cole Hoskins and senior Dalton Chapman providing scoreless relief. GCU held Cal State Fullerton scoreless for the final half of the game.

GCU returns home for its final homestand, hosting Northern Colorado for three conference games. The Lopes look to build on their nine-game WAC win streak in a series that begins on Friday at 6:30 p.m.