Late scoring turns way of Sac State

Friday, May 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

6:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

31-16, 17-5

Sacramento State

24-21, 14-11

Sacramento State

Grand Canyon

5/6/2022 9:16:00 PM | Baseball

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Hornets break 3-3 tie in 8th with 5 late runs

By: Josh Hauser

Grand Canyon and Sacramento State were tied 3-3 in the eighth inning, but the Hornets struck for five late runs to pull away and claim the series opener at GCU Ballpark on Friday night.

The Hornets scored four times in the eighth, all with two outs in the inning. After the second out was recorded, Sac State recorded a single, drew a walk, scored two runs on consecutive wild pitches, drew another walk and scored two more on a two-run single.

Sacramento State scored the game's first two runs with single tallies in the first and the second, but the Lopes came back with the next three runs to take a lead.

GCU sophomore first baseman Elijah Buries hit a one-out single in the second and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Jonny Weaver drove in a run with an RBI single to center.

With the game tied 2-2, GCU pulled ahead in the fifth inning. Weaver led the frame off with a single and scored when sophomore second baseman Dustin Crenshaw singled through the left side.

GCU's 3-2 lead was short lived as Sacramento State led off the sixth with a solo home run.

The Lopes made things interesting with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings on RBI hits from sophomore shortstop Jacob Wilson and Weaver to cut the lead to 8-5.

With nine strikeouts, GCU starting pitcher Nick Hull leaped two individuals in GCU's career strikeout records. Hull upped his career tally to 190 strikeouts, second-most for a D-I career and 16 behind record-holder Jake Repavich.

Sacramento State starting pitcher Eli Saul threw a complete game to improve to 6-0 on the season.

The Lopes and Hornets continue the weekend series on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at GCU Ballpark.