Saturday defeat sets up rubber match

Saturday, April 13

Arlington, Texas

12 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

18-16, 10-4

UT Arlington

15-20, 10-7

GRAND CANYON

UT Arlington

4/13/2024 3:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lopes take 3-0 WAC rubber-match record into series finale at UT Arlington

By: Josh Hauser

ARLINGTON, Texas — Grand Canyon will need another rubber-match victory to continue its nine-series WAC winning streak, as the Lopes fell to UT Arlington 12-4 on Saturday at Clay Gould Ballpark.

GCU (18-16, 10-4 WAC) tied a back-and-forth game in the fourth inning on a no-doubt home run from junior right fielder Michael Diaz. But the Mavericks (15-20, 10-7 WAC) scored the game's final eight runs and posted tallies in four straight innings beginning in the fifth.

The first four innings of Saturday's game were wildly competitive with four lead changes. GCU led 1-0, trailed 2-1, led 3-2, trailed 4-3 and tied 4-4. Diaz's home run led off the fourth inning and was hit well beyond the right-field fence, giving the Phoenix native his second homer of the season.

GCU could not slow down UTA's offense and also struggled with control, surrendering seven walks, hitting four batters and throwing two wild pitches.

The Lopes got on the board first on an opening-inning RBI double from senior left fielder Tyler Wilson.

The Mavericks countered with a two-run first, but GCU freshman starting pitcher Connor Mattison limited the damage nicely after the first three batters of the frame reached base.

It was GCU's turn to regain a lead in the second inning after Diaz singled to open the inning. Sophomore shortstop Emilio Barreras doubled in a run, and senior center fielder Eddy Pelc singled in a run.

UT Arlington's two-run third came on three hits and two hit batters before Diaz's home run tied the score in the fourth.

The Mavericks scored two in the fifth inning, four in the sixth inning and one each in the seventh and eighth to run away with the victory.

Wilson, Diaz and sophomore first baseman Zach Yorke each finished with two hits as a part of the Lopes' nine-hit afternoon.

Sunday's finale will mark the fourth rubber match in five conference series for the Lopes. GCU has won the previous three WAC rubber matches to take series against Tarleton State, UT Rio Grande Valley and Sacramento State. A Sunday win would mark a fourth rubber match win and would run the Lopes' WAC series win streak to 10.

A GCU win would tie the Lopes with California Baptist atop WAC at the haflway point of conference play. The Lancers (23-13, 11-4 WAC) finished a series sweep of shutouts against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.

First pitch on Sunday is set for 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) with sophomore right-hander Isaac Lyon going for the Lopes.