Offense explodes to rout Pacific

Friday, March 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-6

Pacific

7-7

Pacific

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Katie Severns

3/6/2020 9:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Postgame with Coach Wallis Postgame with Nick Hansen Photo Gallery

Lopes record 8 extra-base hits; Ohl throws 7 strong innings

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon bats came to play in the opener of a three-game series against Pacific at GCU Ballpark, with the Lopes recording eight extra-base hits in a 12-1 win over the Tigers.

The Lopes (8-6) recorded 15 hits, the most since last year's 11-2 WAC Tournament win over CSU Bakersfield on May 22, when the team recorded 16 hits. The 12 runs are the most since a 13-2 win over Northern Colorado last season on May 12.

Six Lopes recorded mutli-hit games with first baseman Nick Hansen leading the way with a 3-for-4 night that included a home run and a double with four RBIs. Coming into the game, the left-handed sophomore had only one hit in 22 at bats this season, but he saw results from the changes he made with his swing and plate approach.

"I made a couple adjustments the last couple practices, just trying to see the ball really deep, see it well and get something I could do something with," Hansen said.

As strong as the offense was, the Lopes pitching was just as dominant. Starter Pierson Ohl threw seven innings with five strikeouts and allowed one run to score on a double play, one of a season-high three double plays turned by GCU. Reliever Coen Wynne threw a pair of scoreless innings to close out the Lopes win against Pacific (7-7).

"Pierson did a great job," GCU assistant coach Gregg Wallis said. "He does what he always does. He pounds the zone. He throws strikes and he makes the offense beat him. He did great. He obviously gave up some hits but minimized and it was a great effort."

After junior second baseman Drew Smith sparked GCU with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, it was Hansen's two-run home run to left center in the fourth that broke the game open and gave the Lopes a 5-0 lead.

"I just got a fastball up," Hansen said. "I was looking for something to drive. With a runner on first base I didn't want to hit a ground ball. I think my best at bat today was the line drive to right-center later in the game, staying up the middle."

The GCU offense was not done after Hansen's home run. Consecutively in the fifth inning, junior designated hitter Dominic Grissom added an RBI double and junior left fielder Nate Gawelko hit a RBI triple. Hansen later singled Gawelko home for an 8-1 lead.

In the eighth, GCU scored four more runs by a Hansen double and a three-run moonshot home run by junior left fielder Juan Colato, who sent the ball over the left-field netting and onto 35th Avenue.

Coming into this game, the Lopes as a team were batting .199 and slugging .280. After Friday night, Wallis and the rest of the coaching staff believe confidence will continue to rise at the plate.

"We believe in these hitters and we believe that they are going to come through and break out of this and tonight was a great night," Wallis added. "Some guys have been hitting balls hard and weren't getting results. They did tonight. So, hopefully, that helps our confidence. We know these guys are good and it's just a matter of time and getting more at bats. Now that we are in the flow of the season, we think more days like this are coming."

The Lopes will look for the series win at GCU Ballpark on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.