Young strikes out 11 as Lopes clinch series

Saturday, March 9

Nacogdoches, Texas

1 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

8-7, 2-0

Stephen F. Austin

3-14, 0-2

Grand Canyon

Stephen F. Austin

3/9/2024 3:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Gyselman's 3-run blast keys GCU offense; Lopes' pitching staff records 16 Ks

By: Josh Hauser

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Grand Canyon pitching racked up 16 strikeouts to clinch the first WAC series by defeating Stephen F. Austin 5-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Lopes senior starting pitcher Carter Young threw a gem, limiting the Lumberjacks to one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out 11 to set a new career high, breaking the 10-strikeout mark that he set as a freshman against Seattle U on March 21, 2021.

"It was an incredible performance by CY," GCU head coach Gregg Wallis said. "He showed his experience. He showed what he's been doing all year. He pitched great. Eleven strikeouts to one walk, and we really needed it today."

In Game 2 of the weekend series, Young faced off against Stephen F. Austin staff ace Reid Boyett. Young improved to 3-1 and helped GCU clinch its first WAC series of the season.

"We had talked about this going in, but SFA throws their ace on Saturdays," Wallis said. "We were expecting it to be a defensive game and we knew we needed CY to get us some holds and he did it."

Young was making his 50th career appearance in his fourth GCU season and is approaching 200 career innings (now at 194 1/3) and nearing 200 strikeouts (now at 179).

"He was as good as I've seen him throw in his career," Wallis said. "One of the better performances that I've seen in a long time on the mound. He was dominant when we needed him the most and I can't give enough credit for this win to what Carter Young did on the mound for us today."

GCU broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning on a three-run home run by senior catcher Alton Gyselman, the first of his Division I career. Gyselman's blast drove in junior third baseman Eli Paton (reached on a single) and senior right fielder Eddy Pelc (drew a walk).

The Lopes added to their 3-0 lead with a run in the seventh. After sophomore shortstop Emilio Barreras opened the frame with a single, senior second baseman Dustin Crenshaw replaced him on first base on a fielder's choice before stealing second base. Sophomore first baseman Zach Yorke drove in Crenshaw on a two-out single up the middle.

SFA got a run back on a two-out single but GCU responded with another run in the eighth. Senior left fielder Tyler Wilson singled and advanced into scoring position on an error. Wilson trotted home when Pelc grounded into a double play.

Young turned over a 5-1 lead to the Lopes' bullpen. Senior righty Shawn Triplett struck out the side in the eighth before SFA made things interesting in the ninth with back-to-back homers. Senior closer Nathan Ward finished the Lumberjacks off by collecting the final two outs to earn his third save of the season.

GCU once again had all nine starters reach base. Paton matched his career high with a team-high three hits on the afternoon. The Lopes also swiped a season-high three bases.

The Lopes will search for the series sweep when Game 3 gets underway at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) on Sunday.