Ortiz, Weaver home runs power win in opener

Friday, April 16

Las Cruces, N.M.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

19-14-1, 0

New Mexico State

11-18, 0

Grand Canyon

New Mexico State

4/16/2021 9:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lopes absorb 3-run 1st inning, come back behind strength of 2 homers

By: Josh Hauser

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Channy Ortiz homered for the third straight game and Jonny Weaver followed suit with a go-ahead blast as Grand Canyon claimed the series opener 5-4 from New Mexico State on Friday night at Presley Askew Field.

The Lopes (19-14-1, 13-4 WAC) won their fifth consecutive game after surviving a three-run first inning by the Aggies (11-18, 9-8 WAC) with all five runs coming from the long ball.

"It was an exciting game," GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "It was a great comeback. Get back in it and take the lead in the middle there. Friday night is a big game. It's a big momentum game for whoever wins that game. We needed that one tonight."

GCU ended the night in a three-way tie for first place in the WAC standings after losses by California Baptist and Sacramento State. The Lopes have four-game series ahead with their conference co-leaders.

The Lopes got out to a slow start, but the heroics of the middle infielders were on full display.

After senior catcher David Avitia drew a fifth-inning walk, Ortiz pulled GCU within a run with his fifth homer of the season. The senior lifted a ball over the right-field wall to make it 3-2, becoming the first GCU player with a three-game home run streak since Dominic Grissom did so in February of last season.

A pair of freshmen got things going in the seventh inning when third baseman Jacob Wilson walked and designated hitter Dustin Crenshaw singled. Weaver lifted a 1-0 pitch out to right and it carried out of the ballpark to give GCU the lead for good. It was the second career homer for the junior.

"We just try to get swings off and barrel it," Stankiewicz said. "We got a couple of good swings off today that worked in our advantage. We're not a home run-hitting team, but certainly both of those were good swings. Good swings to put some runs on the board."

New Mexico State posed significant threats in the fifth and sixth innings with the first two batters reaching base in each frame. The fifth inning was diffused when the Lopes got the lead runner out on a fielder's choice before a double play ended the inning. Similarly in the sixth, GCU made an out at third base on a rundown before ending the frame with a harmless ground out to shortstop.

After being shut out for seven consecutive innings, the Aggies made things interesting in the ninth with a leadoff home run to straightaway center before GCU senior reliever Frankie Scalzo clamped down to get the final three outs and his fifth save. Lopes senior right-hander Coen Wynne was also key in relief, striking out four batters in two scoreless innings.

"Coen Wynne did a fantastic job again," Stankiewicz said. "Frankie came in and luckily we had a little of room there to give up the homer. But he settled back in and made some nice pitches."

New Mexico State jumped on Lopes starter Zach Barnes for three runs on four hits in the opening inning, but the senior settled in and did not allow a run in his final five innings while striking out six.

"Barnes started out slow," Stankiewicz said. "We have to find a way to help him get out of the gate better. He hasn't gotten out of the gate as clean as he needs to be. He hung in there and made some big pitches when he needed to."

The Lopes won despite only five hits for their lowest hit total in a winning effort this season. GCU did, however, pick up a win against New Mexico State's top starter in Rorik Maltrudwho entered with a 2.36 ERA. The remainder of the Aggies' scheduled rotation features a 5.77 ERA.

The teams will play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon (Phoenix time) in Las Cruces.