Lopes struggle in Saturday loss

Saturday, March 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-6

San Diego

7-6

San Diego

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/12/2022 9:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lopes muster 3 extra base hits in loss

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon baseball team was unable to pick up a series win on Saturday, dropping a 7-1 game to San Diego at GCU Ballpark.

The Lopes (9-6) had a tough night at the plate, finishing with a season-low five hits and one run coming in the eighth inning after San Diego (7-6) starter Brycen Mautz racked up nine strikeouts on just 78 pitches in seven shutout innings.

For the first time this season GCU starter Connor Markl struggled on the mound allowing five runs on nine hits in four innings, his shortest of the season.

The Toreros jumped ahead early with three runs in the second inning off a pair of run scoring singles and an RBI groundout. It would become a 5-0 ballgame when San Diego added runs off a solo homerun and an RBI single. Markl would strikeout the final batter of the inning to end his outing.

GCU had early chances to get runs on the board but stranded left fielder Maxwell Andeel at third after he led the second inning off with a double. Tyler Wilson chipped in with a double in the fifth inning with one out but a GCU strikeout and groundout ended the scoring threat.

The Lopes were able to break through in the eighth after center fielder Homer Bush Jr. used his speed to turn what would be a double down the right field line into a standup triple with just one out. Elijah Buries would drive him in with a single in the next at bat to erase the USD shutout.

The GCU reliever trio of RJ Elmore, Taisei Yahiro and Ryan Scheifer were effective in the final five innings allowing just two runs to score without walking a batter and collecting three total strikeouts.

The Lopes will look for a series win on Sunday matinee game starting at 12 p.m.