Completed Event: Baseball at Stanford on May 9, 2025 , Win , 4, to, 3
Baseball
at Stanford
W 4-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 15
Mesa, Ariz. / Sloan Park
5:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
1-1
6
vs
5
San Diego State
1-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
1
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
9
0
San Diego State
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
5
8
4
Photo by: Jack Gilday
Ahern, Gregory pave way for 1st win
2/15/2025 10:00:00 PM | Baseball
Lopes grab early 5-0 advantage, cling on for win over San Diego State
MESA, Ariz. — Grand Canyon put a tally in the win column for the first time in the young season, jumping out to an early five-run lead over San Diego State and clinging on for a 6-5 win at Sloan Park on Saturday night in the MLB Desert Invitational.
Lopes sophomore right-hander Garrett Ahern made his second career start and was impressive, limiting the Aztecs (1-1) to one run over his six innings while striking out seven and walking none. The Lopes turned to freshman righty Billy Gregory in his collegiate debut and he tossed two more scoreless frames in relief.
GCU built a 6-1 lead by the middle of the fourth inning which remained unchanged until the bottom of the ninth. The Lopes' five-run advantage was enough to absorb San Diego State scoring four runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth. Senior Walter Quinn stranded the tying run at the plate and earned his first save of the season.
The Lopes capitalized on sloppy play by San Diego State in the early innings. Graduate center fielder Eddy Pelc drew a first-inning walk, moved to second on a steal, advanced to third on an error and scored when sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders reached on an error.
GCU opened the third inning with back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore catcher Marcus Galvan and sophomore right fielder Carson Ohland. That set the stage for junior shortstop Emilio Barreras to drive in Galvan on a double. Senior third baseman Eli Paton delivered the inning's big blow on a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to stake GCU to a 5-0 lead.
Ahern's only run allowed came in the third, limiting the damage after back-to-back singles opened the inning.
GCU quickly replied with a run of its own after Barreras drew a walk and later scored on the fourth Aztecs' error of the game.
GCU maintained its 6-1 lead into the ninth but allowed the first three runners to reach and a two-run triple to narrow the deficit. San Diego State pulled within a run but a full-count fly out to right ended the rally.
The Lopes posted nine hits and did not commit an error, receiving multi-hit efforts from Barreras and Paton.
GCU will close out its participation in the MLB Desert Invitational on Sunday evening. The Lopes will take on Austin Peay at Salt River Fields, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. on MLB.com.
Lopes sophomore right-hander Garrett Ahern made his second career start and was impressive, limiting the Aztecs (1-1) to one run over his six innings while striking out seven and walking none. The Lopes turned to freshman righty Billy Gregory in his collegiate debut and he tossed two more scoreless frames in relief.
GCU built a 6-1 lead by the middle of the fourth inning which remained unchanged until the bottom of the ninth. The Lopes' five-run advantage was enough to absorb San Diego State scoring four runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth. Senior Walter Quinn stranded the tying run at the plate and earned his first save of the season.
The Lopes capitalized on sloppy play by San Diego State in the early innings. Graduate center fielder Eddy Pelc drew a first-inning walk, moved to second on a steal, advanced to third on an error and scored when sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders reached on an error.
GCU opened the third inning with back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore catcher Marcus Galvan and sophomore right fielder Carson Ohland. That set the stage for junior shortstop Emilio Barreras to drive in Galvan on a double. Senior third baseman Eli Paton delivered the inning's big blow on a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to stake GCU to a 5-0 lead.
Ahern's only run allowed came in the third, limiting the damage after back-to-back singles opened the inning.
GCU quickly replied with a run of its own after Barreras drew a walk and later scored on the fourth Aztecs' error of the game.
GCU maintained its 6-1 lead into the ninth but allowed the first three runners to reach and a two-run triple to narrow the deficit. San Diego State pulled within a run but a full-count fly out to right ended the rally.
The Lopes posted nine hits and did not commit an error, receiving multi-hit efforts from Barreras and Paton.
GCU will close out its participation in the MLB Desert Invitational on Sunday evening. The Lopes will take on Austin Peay at Salt River Fields, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. on MLB.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ahern, Garrett (1-0)
L: CARDENAS, Xavier (0-1)
S: Quinn, Walter (1)
Batting:
2B: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Pelc, Eddy 1 ; Paton, Eli 1
RBI: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1 ; Paton, Eli 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Barreras, Emilio 2 ; Pelc, Eddy 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1 ; Galvan, Marcus 1 ; Ohland, Carson 1
SB: Pelc, Eddy 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1
HBP: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Pelc, Eddy 1
Batting:
3B: KELLY, Zane 1 ; RUTTER, Drew 1
RBI: BATES, Finley 2 ; SIPE, Evan 1 ; RUTTER, Drew 2
SH: RUTTER, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ARAMBULA, Daniel 1 ; KELLY, Zane 1 ; SMITH, Jonathan 1 ; SIPE, Evan 1 ; RUTTER, Drew 1
CS: NOONAN, Nevan 1
HBP: SIPE, Evan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
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C/3B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
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