GCU can't dig out of early hole in opener

Friday, March 1

San Antonio, Texas

5 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

5-4

UTSA

5-5

Grand Canyon

UTSA

Photo by: BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI

Photo by: Mark Sobhani

Photo by: BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI

Photo by: Mark Sobhani

Photo by: BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI

Photo by: Mark Sobhani

3/1/2024 7:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes fall behind 5-0 in 1st without allowing earned run, lose 12-0

By: Josh Hauser

SAN ANTONIO — Grand Canyon dropped its weekend opener at UTSA 12-0 on Friday night.

The Lopes fell behind early as a fielding error extended the bottom of the first inning and led to five unearned runs scoring.

GCU (5-4) didn't get back on track after the opening inning. While starting pitcher Daniel Avitia restored order in limiting the Roadrunners (5-5) to one run over the next four innings, the Lopes couldn't scratch across a run.

Avitia lowered his season ERA from 4.22 to 3.45 by only allowing one earned run over a five-inning outing. He struck out five and walked two.

GCU was limited to four hits on the night and two came off the bat of senior center fielder Cade Verdusco, who has raised his season batting average to .400 with an eight-game hitting streak. He also reached on a walk, reaching in three of his four plate appearances. The Lopes were almost on the scoreboard first when Verdusco singled, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch in the first inning, but he was left stranded.

UTSA added a run in the third inning and back-to-back three-run innings in the sixth and seventh.

GCU will look to even the series when the teams meet at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time) on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.