Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Cal State Fullerton on November 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Baseball
11 a.m.
vs Cal State Fullerton
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Wednesday, March 6
Phoenix, Ariz.
2 p.m.
Grand Canyon
6-7
5
vs
13
Oregon
9-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Oregon
1
1
0
2
2
5
2
0
0
13
21
0
Grand Canyon
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
5
9
1
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Lopes ready to reset for WAC play after losses
3/6/2024 6:35:00 PM | Baseball, Paul Coro
Ahern's pitching offers bright spot with Yorke's, Wilson's homers
When Grand Canyon gathered postgame Wednesday on GCU Ballpark's left-field line while Oregon celebrated its 13-5 win in right field, Lopes head coach Gregg Wallis directed his players to look at the numbers on the right-field wall.
That display of GCU's WAC championship and NCAA regional years offers a reminder that this week's three-game losing streak does not change that this season's goal begins Friday with its opening conference series at Stephen F. Austin.
In a six-day stretch, two mid-week losses to an Oregon team coming off a 2023 Super Regional appearance followed the Lopes' 1-2 weekend series at UTSA.
"It makes us stronger for what we're trying to do," Wallis said. "The goal isn't to be 6-7 or 8-5. Our goal is to figure out how we put more numbers on the wall, and nobody has taken that away from us in 13 games."
During the past three WAC regular-season championships seasons, GCU cumulatively carried a .500 record into the start of conference play. These Lopes opened at 4-0 last month with dominating pitching against strong programs but lost a third consecutive series Wednesday when Oregon broke open a 4-4 game with a five-run sixth inning.
The Ducks' offense put leadoff batters on base in six of their first seven innings Wednesday, following Sunday and Tuesday losses in which five leadoff batters reached base in each game.
"It's time for us to hit the reset button and take a step forward," Wallis said. "We've been challenged. I still really like this team's spirit. A new season starts tonight. I really believe in this team. I really believe in these players. We're going to make some adjustments and get back after it on this road trip."
GCU began to turn that page with the way freshman right-hander Garrett Ahern closed Wednesday's game in front of 1,018 fans. Ahern, a graduate of crosstown Gilbert's Campo Verde High School, threw 2 2/3 shutout innings in his second Lopes appearance.
Ahern inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the seventh inning and escaped on a double-play lineout to right fielder Eddy Pelc. After having a one-inning debut against Nebraska, Ahern returned intent on attacking the strike zone with his two-seam fastball, a go-to circle change and a new curveball.
"I'm just thankful for the coaches believing that I can go out there and pitch," Ahern said. "It gives me confidence knowing that I can go out there and pitch against the bigger schools and the best out there."
Despite trailing on a first-pitch home run that began Oregon outfielder Justin Cassella's 4-for-4, four-RBI day, the Lopes answered to take a 4-2 lead against the Ducks (9-3) through three innings.
For a second consecutive at bat from the end of Tuesday's game, GCU sophomore first baseman Zach Yorke smashed a home run in the first inning on a two-run line drive to right field. Yorke is hitting .225 with four home runs in 40 at bats and a .400 on-base percentage. He hit eight home runs last season in 204 at bats.
"We know Zach is going to get going," Wallis said. "Whatever he's hitting now, he's not going to be hitting that for long. He's too good of a hitter. Through a 13-game stretch, even Mike Trout is going to hit .200. That's why baseball is a game of averages.
"By the end of the year, Zach will be hitting right where we're expecting. The power production is ahead of last year, and we're excited about that."
The Lopes went ahead 4-2 in the third inning when junior first baseman Beau Ankeney's second consecutive double was followed by a deep home run to right field by senior left fielder Tyler Wilson, who has belted three homers this season after having five last season.
But Oregon scored 11 runs over the next four innings on a 21-hit day, the most GCU has surrendered in a regular-season game since a 20-2 loss to Nevada in February 2022.
"We want to throw strikes," Wallis said. "When we're doing that, hitters are ready to attack. We have to adjust and start mixing more and changing our sequences."
GCU opens its WAC-opening series Friday at Stephen F. Austin, which is 3-11 after a 10-game losing streak.
That display of GCU's WAC championship and NCAA regional years offers a reminder that this week's three-game losing streak does not change that this season's goal begins Friday with its opening conference series at Stephen F. Austin.
In a six-day stretch, two mid-week losses to an Oregon team coming off a 2023 Super Regional appearance followed the Lopes' 1-2 weekend series at UTSA.
"It makes us stronger for what we're trying to do," Wallis said. "The goal isn't to be 6-7 or 8-5. Our goal is to figure out how we put more numbers on the wall, and nobody has taken that away from us in 13 games."
During the past three WAC regular-season championships seasons, GCU cumulatively carried a .500 record into the start of conference play. These Lopes opened at 4-0 last month with dominating pitching against strong programs but lost a third consecutive series Wednesday when Oregon broke open a 4-4 game with a five-run sixth inning.
The Ducks' offense put leadoff batters on base in six of their first seven innings Wednesday, following Sunday and Tuesday losses in which five leadoff batters reached base in each game.
"It's time for us to hit the reset button and take a step forward," Wallis said. "We've been challenged. I still really like this team's spirit. A new season starts tonight. I really believe in this team. I really believe in these players. We're going to make some adjustments and get back after it on this road trip."
GCU began to turn that page with the way freshman right-hander Garrett Ahern closed Wednesday's game in front of 1,018 fans. Ahern, a graduate of crosstown Gilbert's Campo Verde High School, threw 2 2/3 shutout innings in his second Lopes appearance.Ahern inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the seventh inning and escaped on a double-play lineout to right fielder Eddy Pelc. After having a one-inning debut against Nebraska, Ahern returned intent on attacking the strike zone with his two-seam fastball, a go-to circle change and a new curveball.
"I'm just thankful for the coaches believing that I can go out there and pitch," Ahern said. "It gives me confidence knowing that I can go out there and pitch against the bigger schools and the best out there."
Despite trailing on a first-pitch home run that began Oregon outfielder Justin Cassella's 4-for-4, four-RBI day, the Lopes answered to take a 4-2 lead against the Ducks (9-3) through three innings.
For a second consecutive at bat from the end of Tuesday's game, GCU sophomore first baseman Zach Yorke smashed a home run in the first inning on a two-run line drive to right field. Yorke is hitting .225 with four home runs in 40 at bats and a .400 on-base percentage. He hit eight home runs last season in 204 at bats."We know Zach is going to get going," Wallis said. "Whatever he's hitting now, he's not going to be hitting that for long. He's too good of a hitter. Through a 13-game stretch, even Mike Trout is going to hit .200. That's why baseball is a game of averages.
"By the end of the year, Zach will be hitting right where we're expecting. The power production is ahead of last year, and we're excited about that."
The Lopes went ahead 4-2 in the third inning when junior first baseman Beau Ankeney's second consecutive double was followed by a deep home run to right field by senior left fielder Tyler Wilson, who has belted three homers this season after having five last season.
But Oregon scored 11 runs over the next four innings on a 21-hit day, the most GCU has surrendered in a regular-season game since a 20-2 loss to Nevada in February 2022.
"We want to throw strikes," Wallis said. "When we're doing that, hitters are ready to attack. We have to adjust and start mixing more and changing our sequences."
GCU opens its WAC-opening series Friday at Stephen F. Austin, which is 3-11 after a 10-game losing streak.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Umlandt, Ian (1-0)
L: Case, David (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Cassella, Justin 1 ; Heard, Jeffery 1 ; Garate, Carter 2
HR: Cassella, Justin 1 ; Neville, Mason 1 ; Walsh, Jacob 1 ; Cooney, Ryan 1
RBI: Cassella, Justin 4 ; Neville, Mason 2 ; Heard, Jeffery 1 ; Aroz, Anson 2 ; Walsh, Jacob 3 ; Cooney, Ryan 1
SF: Cassella, Justin 1 ; Heard, Jeffery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cassella, Justin 2 ; Neville, Mason 2 ; Smith, Drew 1 ; Heard, Jeffery 1 ; Aroz, Anson 1 ; Walsh, Jacob 1 ; Cooney, Ryan 1 ; Meggers, Chase 2 ; Garate, Carter 2
CS: Meggers, Chase 1
Batting:
2B: Ankeney, Beau 2
HR: Yorke, Zach 1 ; Wilson, Tyler 1
RBI: Yorke, Zach 2 ; Wilson, Tyler 2
SH: Sheehan, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, Troy 1 ; Verdusco, Cade 1 ; Yorke, Zach 1 ; Ankeney, Beau 1 ; Wilson, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
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UTIL
/ Baseball1B
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