GCU drops MLB Desert Invitational finale

Sunday, February 16

Scottsdale, Ariz. / Salt River Fields

5:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-2

Austin Peay

1-2

Grand Canyon

Austin Peay

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

2/16/2025 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

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Lopes score game's final 4 runs, can't recover from allowing 5-run 5th

By: Josh Hauser

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Grand Canyon scored the game's final four runs but failed to recover from a seven-run deficit in its Sunday evening MLB Desert Invitational finale against Austin Peay at Salt River Fields.

The Governors used a five-run fifth inning — highlighted by a grand slam — to build an 8-1 lead through five. The Lopes responded with four unanswered runs to narrow the gap to 8-5, but GCU ran out of time in its rally effort.

Leading the Lopes offense, senior left fielder Michael Diaz hit a double and a home run that resulted in three RBIs.

After junior left-hander Chance Key and senior right-hander Barrett Skaugrud tossed the first 4 2/3 innings, a pair of GCU bullpen arms shined in their Lopes debuts. Freshman right-hander Ross Clark threw 2 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout baseball with three strikeouts and was followed by junior right-hander Cam Cunnings' scoreless inning.

Clark and Cunnings provided the cover for GCU to work its way back into the game.

In the top of the sixth, Lopes junior first baseman Zach Yorke was hit by a pitch and scored on Diaz's home run to right field.

In the ninth, sophomore Billy Scaldeferri and freshman Gunnar Penzkover recorded pinch-hit infield singles and came around to score. The Lopes nearly brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, but a fly ball off the bat of sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders was gloved in deep left to end the Governors' win.

Though the MLB Desert Invitational is officially concluded, a pair of its participants will meet up at GCU Ballpark on Monday afternoon as the Lopes host No. 24 Nebraska. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.