GCU, Mizzou split Saturday doubleheader

Saturday, February 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-0

Missouri

0-2

Missouri

Grand Canyon

2/20/2021 7:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

Lopes take opener, fall in nightcap

Grand Canyon finished the season's second day with a doubleheader split with Missouri at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark .

Hot hitting carried the Lopes to a 8-4 win in Game 1, but a five-RBI performance by junior infielder Juan Colato wasn't enough as the Tigers took Game 2 9-7.

Game 1

GCU pushed across a pair of runs in the first inning and did not ever surrender that initial lead.

The Lopes' 11-hit effort featured four multi-hit days, led by senior center fielder Brock Burton's three hits and freshman left fielder Ryland Zaborowski's three RBIs.

The highlight of the day was a Zaborowski home run, a no-doubter that registered at 407 feet to put the Lopes up 3-0 in the third.

GCU's scoring started, however, with a three-hit first inning and an RBI base knock from freshman designated hitter Tyler Wilson and a bases-loaded walk from sophomore outfielder Tayler Aguilar.

While the Lopes went to work with the bats, junior Pierson Ohl — a Preseason All-WAC honoree — did his thing on the hill. The right-hander cruised through his first five innings of work and allowed just one run. His sixth inning of work saw the Tigers strike for a pair of runs but limited the damage to add a win to his ledger in his first outing. In 5 2/3, Ohl struck out six and walked two.

Mizzou pulled no closer than 6-3 in the sixth, as GCU responded with single tallies in the sixth and seventh innings. Zaborowski drove in the run in the sixth, while senior shortstop Channy Ortiz hit a sac fly to cap the Lopes' scoring in the seventh.

Keaton Glover made his GCU debut out of the bullpen, surrendering one run. Senior Nick Hull was superb in his 2 1/3 innings of scoreless closeout duty, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Game 2

Missouri bounced back to take the nightcap 9-7. A three-run home run by Tigers third baseman Luke Mann in the sixth inning was the difference in a back-and-forth game.

Redshirt senior Jack Schneider took the mound for the Lopes and went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs.

After falling behind 3-0 in the second, Colato delivered in the bottom of the inning with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double. It was just the start of the night for the Preseason WAC Player of the Year, as Colato added a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. That homer narrowed the deficit to 8-7 but the Lopes were unable to get on base in the ninth and finished the game with nine men left on base.

While the Tigers took advantage of the GCU relievers, scoring five runs on six hits, the Lopes were unable to do the same. Mizzou reliever Spencer Jurgens picked up the win and threw 4 1/3 innings and scattered four hits while surrendering two runs on the Colato homer. Freshman Zach Hise closed the door for the save.

Shortstop Channy Ortiz went 3 for 5 while Zaborowski added two more hits on his already impressive start to the season. The freshman is hitting .583 through his first three collegiate games.

The Lopes and Tigers will meet for the fourth and final game on Sunday at 12 p.m.