GCU bounces back, shuts out Utah Tech

Friday, April 18

St. George, Utah

5 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

23-15, 10-4

Utah Tech

16-21, 2-9

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

Photo by: Josh Hauser

4/18/2025 8:09:00 PM | Baseball

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Ahern posts 1st career shutout start; Lopes jump on Trailblazers ace immediately

By: Josh Hauser

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Grand Canyon sophomore right-hander Garrett Ahern tossed seven scoreless to lead the Lopes to a 7-0 shutout victory over Utah Tech on Friday night at Bruce Hurst Field.

In the strongest outing of his career, Ahern set career highs in innings pitched (seven), strikeouts (nine) and pitches (105). He helped GCU (23-15, 10-4 WAC) move back into a first-place tie in the WAC standings and set up a series rubber match on Saturday afternoon.

"He was on the attack all night long," GCU head coach Gregg Wallis said. "He was winning counts, challenging hitters and really set the tone for the whole game."

Hand in hand with Ahern's performance, the Lopes offense rose to the occasion against one of the WAC's premier arms in Trailblazers right-hander Cade Montgomery. The sophomore entered the weekend with a 4-1 record and 2.01 ERA.

GCU opened the game with four consecutive base hits to yield a 2-0 first-inning lead. Graduate center fielder Eddy Pelc had the big hit of the frame, singling up the middle to drive in a pair.

"When we showed up at the yard there was a group of scouts already here because we knew this guy was really good," Wallis said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the WAC, so I think we took that as a challenge and came out and took great at bats and it started from the first swing of the game. I thought (junior right fielder) Josh Wakefield set the tone with a great leadoff at bat, and then it carried over for the first four hitters."

Though Montgomery settled in and posted four straight scoreless innings, the Lopes broke through again late. Pelc doubled the GCU lead with a sixth-inning, two-run home run after junior shortstop Emilio Barreras doubled. Pelc joined senior left fielder Michael Diaz and senior third baseman Eli Paton with a team-high eight home runs.

"Eddy is a very productive at bat," Wallis said of Pelc, who ran his season RBI count to 31 with four in the game. "He walks, he drives in runs — he's helping us win."

Barreras added three hits, scored two runs and walked, continuing his recent tear at the plate after returning from injury.

"He's putting together an incredible season," Wallis said of Barreras, who saw his season average climb to .397. "His rhythm and timing are back, and it's great to have him out there."

GCU grew its lead to 5-0 in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch. In the eighth, the Lopes tacked on two more insurance runs on a sacrifice fly from Diaz and a two-out RBI single from sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders.

Junior right-hander Elijah Higginbottom closed out the shutout with a pair of scoreless and hitless frames. GCU shut out an opponent for the third time with previous shutouts coming at Texas State and against Seattle U.

The Lopes will send freshman righty Gunnar Penzkover to the mound as they look to win their 22nd straight conference road series and maintain pace with WAC co-leader Utah Valley. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (Phoenix time).