Bats cool off in loss to Beavers

Thursday, February 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-2

Oregon State

4-1

Oregon State

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

2/25/2021 9:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Barnes records 2nd straight quality start in loss

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon baseball team dropped the first game of a four-game series against Oregon State 4-0 at GCU Ballpark.

After hitting .323 as a team in the series win over Missouri last weekend, the Lopes (3-2) were only able to scatter three hits against the Beavers in Thursday's game.

GCU senior starter Zach Barnes, the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week with a 10-strikeout performance, threw six innings with just four hits and eight strikeouts. A solo home run given up in the top of the second saddled the right-handed senior with his first loss of the season.

In his first two starts, Barnes now owns a 0.75 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 12 innings of work with two walks allowed.

Oregon State (4-1) starter Kevin Abel was lights out against the Lopes, throwing five scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts that tied a career high. GCU also struggled against the Beavers' three relievers and wasn't able to record a hit in the final four innings.

The Lopes had their best opportunity to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. After sophomore catcher Josh Buckley and senior first baseman Dane Stankiewicz were hit by pitches, leadoff man Juan Colato beat out an infield single to load the bases with no outs. OSU's Abel buckled down and struck out the next three GCU batters on 10 pitches to keep the Lopes off the scoreboard.

Freshman third baseman Jacob Wilson and senior shortstop Channy Ortiz recorded the other two hits for GCU.

With a 1-0 score for most of the game, the Beavers added three insurance runs in the eighth off back-to-back singles with two outs in the inning to take a 4-0 lead.

The Lopes and Beavers will meet again on Friday under the lights at GCU Ballpark for Game 2. Junior right-handed pitcher Pierson Ohl takes the mound for the Lopes fresh off a win in his season debut against Missouri last week.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on Fox 10 Xtra and ESPN3.