GCU takes series from Texas State with shutout

Sunday, March 5

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Texas State

3/5/2023 6:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Markl, Ohl, Richardson combine for Lopes' 2nd shutout of season

By: Josh Hauser

Grand Canyon jumped in front early and cruised to a Sunday win to claim a three-game series over Texas State at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

The Lopes claimed the first and last games of the series to log a momentous series victory over a fellow 2022 NCAA tournament participant.

"I knew going into it that this was going to be a big series," said junior center fielder Homer Bush Jr., who added two more hits and three more RBIs to his week of .667 hitting. "A lot of eyes were going to be on it. Big, top-25 programs. Two teams who just made regionals. We knew the eyes were going to be on it, but that's what makes it so fun to get the opportunity to compete against a team like that."

At 8-3, GCU is off to its best start to a season since 2015.

Lopes pitchers Connor Markl, Carson Ohl and Grant Richardson combined to toss GCU's second shutout of the season, limiting the Bobcats (7-4) to five hits.

Things got off to a shaky start for Markl, who walked three batters in the first inning but ended the threat with a bases-loaded strikeout.

"It wasn't my best inning," Markl said. "I was just trying to get a feel of my pitching and my arsenal and it wasn't going too well. I had to be gritty, had to do what the Lopes have done all year and just be gritty. Had to do it for them. It was a big game and a game I wanted to pitch."

Markl cruised the rest of the way, picking up his first victory of the season with six shutout innings. He didn't walk another batter after the first inning.

"He just needed to get his feet under him," Bush said. "It happens sometimes. That's part of the reason why he's been such a good pitcher over the past year and why everyone has such big confidence in him. You know that even if he struggles a little bit, he's going to come up big and get a big out and perform the rest of the way."

The Lopes got their scoring started in the second inning on the first career home run by freshman first baseman Zach Yorke, who led off the frame with a no-doubt shot to right-center field.

"He started me off with curveballs, two straight," Yorke said. "I knew I was going to get it again if he ever evened up the count. Just sitting on it and luckily I got one up in the zone, took a good swing and carried it out of here."

The hitting proved contagious as the Lopes continued to tack on a two-run third, four-run fourth and three-run fifth.

GCU junior shortstop Jacob Wilson hit a two-run single in the third.

Bush drew a bases-loaded walk to start the scoring in a four-run fourth. Graduate second baseman Zack Gregory singled through the right side to plate a pair. Wilson capped the inning's scoring with a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the day.

"Our offense is really good," Markl said. "One through nine, there's not a time when the pitcher can take the foot off the gas pedal. Just taking the momentum into each game now."

Bush finished a strong offensive week by driving in two runs in on a double to left-center in the fifth. Gregory drove in GCU's 10th run on a sacrifice fly.

"I made an adjustment at the very end of last week," Bush said. "I was having a lot of success in my two-strike approach. So I decided I'm just going to do that right when I get in the box."

The Lopes added their final run in the eighth when substitute catcher John Sheehan drew a bases-loaded walk.

GCU drew eight walks and only struck out four times in the win. Three of the walks were drawn by sophomore left fielder Maxwell Andeel, who scored all three times.

The Lopes will continue their homestand by hosting Arizona on Tuesday night at GCU Ballpark.