Ohl dominates but Lopes lose lead late

Friday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-3

Oregon State

5-1

Oregon State

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

2/26/2021 9:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU junior pitcher records career-high 9 strikeouts in 7 shutout innings

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon baseball team dropped a close 3-1 game to Oregon State in the second game of the four-game series on Friday night at GCU Ballpark.

GCU junior starting pitcher Pierson Ohl was lights out, collecting a career-high nine strikeouts in seven scoreless innings and surrendering two hits in a no decision.

The Beavers scored three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to steal the win.

Ohl was on point from the very first pitch and threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 23 batters he faced while only facing a three-ball count three times. Six of the nine strikeouts were looking strikeouts as Ohl kept the Beavers' batters off balance with his fastball and breaking pitches.

The Lopes (3-3) took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single by freshman third baseman Jacob Wilson. On a 2-2 count, Wilson hit a high fastball through the right side of the infield that scored shortstop Channy Ortiz from second on a close play at the plate.

The single by Ortiz and Wilson marked the first two hits from the Lopes and the only hits that Oregon State (5-1) starter Cooper Hjerpe allowed in his six innings.

With the 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of eighth, the Lopes turned to the bullpen with junior right-hander Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis making his first appearance this series. With a Beaver baserunner on third and two outs, the right-handed Aussie buckled down to get OSU's Andy Armstrong to ground out to third to end the scoring threat.

After a strikeout and a walk in the top of the ninth by GCU reliever Frankie Scalzo, the Lopes were two outs away from a win. OSU's third baseman Matthew Gretler hit a hard ground ball to Dane Stankiewicz, who replaced Juan Colato at second base in the top of the fifth. Stankiewicz's initial bobble on the ground ball allowed only one out to be recorded at second base and the inning was kept alive.

With two outs and a runner on first and second, Oregon State outfielder Joe Casey hit a ball into deep left field that GCU senior Nate Gawelko could not reach to catch at the wall. It scored both baserunners and gave the Beavers a 2-1 lead. Oregon State added an insurance run as Casey scored on an RBI single.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Lopes went down in order against OSU's Jake Mulholland, who earned his first save of the season.

GCU will try to even the series with Oregon State with 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday games at GCU Ballpark.