Offense returns to form in 7-5 win

Saturday, February 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-2

Nebraska

3-3

Nebraska

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

2/24/2024 9:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lopes collect 11 hits, 4 extra base hits in 1st win of the series

By: Jerob Moon

With another strong crowd on hand at GCU Ballpark, Grand Canyon got back in the win column with a 7-5 victory over Nebraska on Saturday night.

The 2,952 fans were treated to back-to-back home runs from GCU first baseman Zach Yorke and designated hitter Beau Ankeney in the third inning, and the GCU bullpen came up clutch led by senior Nathan Ward's 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first save.

After collecting just 12 hits and three runs in the first two games of the series, the GCU offense roared back to life with 11 hits, four of those for extra bases.

"I think we went on the offensive tonight," Lopes head coach Gregg Wallis said. "The first two nights, their pitchers did a good job of smothering the strike zone and getting us on our heels. We felt like we were taking some defensive at bats. So Coach (Nate) Causey talked to the boys and told them to be on time and get off you're A-swing. Tonight they did that and it was beautiful to see."

The first seven batters in the GCU lineup each had a hit, with senior center fielder Cade Verdusco, Yorke and Ankeney combining for six hits and five runs while batting third through fifth.

The Lopes needed the offense to respond early with Nebraska (3-3) putting up three runs in the first. It didn't take long for GCU (5-2) to get on the scoreboard, thanks to senior left fielder Tyler Wilson scoring two runs with a double that found the gap in left center. GCU cut into the lead at 3-2 after the first inning.

That deficit soon became a lead for the Lopes with Yorke and Ankeney mashing back-to-back home runs to right field in the third inning. That run support was enough for GCU freshman Connor Mattison, who made his first start after an impressive debut out of the bullpen in the season opener. Mattison threw five innings, striking out seven while allowing four runs to earn the first win.

The Lopes took the lead for good in the fifth, scoring a run on a Nebraska throwing error after an Ankeney infield single and a Wilson RBI ground out to lead 6-4.

After grabbing the lead, the Lopes turned to the bullpen and got solid innings of middle relief from Grant Richardson. The sophomore left-harder brought a change of pace on the mound, allowing just one run to score with bases loaded and just one out.

With the go-ahead run at the plate, Wallis turned to his closer in the seventh inning. Ward came in and struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam, kick-starting his 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief that included three strikeouts.

Ward's final strikeout came on the final batter of the game. With the tying run at the plate, Ward recorded the final out on a five-pitch at bat.

"It was a great game and that's a great team over there," Wallis said. "This didn't feel like game seven of the regular season. This feels like a tournament, and Nebraska looks like a team that could make a regional. That's why we scheduled a team like this, because this is going to prepare us. They are making us elevate our game and exposing some things we need to get better at."

The finale of the four-game series between the Lopes and Huskers will take place Sunday at noon at GCU Ballpark