Paton walks off UTA to back Yorke's big night

Friday, April 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

25-16, 11-5

UT Arlington

13-25, 5-8

UT Arlington

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Nate Cochran

4/25/2025 10:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Yorke racks up 4 hits, including 3 for extra bases in series-opening victory

By: Josh Hauser

Grand Canyon gave up a lead in the ninth inning but promptly responded with a walk-off single from senior third baseman Eli Paton to open the series against UT Arlington with an 8-7 home victory on Friday night.

GCU's ninth-inning rally ensured a career night by Zach Yorke was not wasted. The junior first baseman went 4 for 4 with three extra-base hits and three RBIs, reaching base for a fifth time on a hit by pitch during the ninth-inning bounceback.

"He was outstanding tonight," Lopes head coach Gregg Wallis said. "His swing was on. He was balanced. He was getting great pitches to hit. We don't expect Zach to go 4 for 4 every night, but he's a great hitter and he's got the capability to have some game-changing at bats."

GCU (25-16, 11-5 WAC) built an early 7-3 lead before UT Arlington (13-25, 5-8) rallied to tie the game with two runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth.

But the Lopes answered immediately in the bottom half of the ninth with a walk and two hit batsmen loading the bases for Paton's fly ball to center. Mavericks center fielder Xander McAfee didn't waste his energy on what was likely to be a game-winning sacrifice fly, instead letting the ball travel over his head and fall to the grass for a walk-off single.

"Just resilient," Yorke said. "Coach told us after the game that we dominated that game, and I couldn't agree more. It felt like we were up 10 the whole time. Every guy was taking quality at bats. Pitchers were pounding the strike zone. And even when they came back, we knew we were going to come back and win it."

Yorke, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, delivered all three of his RBIs with two outs. His night included a solo homer in the fifth that extended GCU's lead to 6-3 at the time.

"Really all night, I thought we played a great game," Wallis said. "Even when they came back and it was 7-7, whichever way that game went, I thought that was one of our most complete games of the year in terms of attacking the strike zone, playing great defense and being aggressive at the plate and on the bases."

GCU kept pace with Utah Valley atop the WAC standings. The Wolverines fought back from a 12-4 deficit to win a wild 18-14 series opener against California Baptist and match the Lopes at 11-5.

Junior right-hander Isaac Lyon started for GCU and pitched seven innings, exiting in line for the win before UT Arlington's late comeback. Senior reliever Walter Quinn threw a quick eighth, while junior Elijah Higginbottom finished off the top of the ninth with two pitches and improved to 4-0 after GCU walked it off.

Junior right fielder Josh Wakefield continued to impact the GCU offense, going 3 for 4 with a stolen base, while junior shortstop Emilio Barreras added two hits, including a two-run double in the second inning to spark GCU's early offense.

Wallis also praised senior left fielder Michael Diaz for a key at bat to get the wheels turning in the ninth, drawing a walk after falling behind 0-2 to set the stage for the rally.

"That's what's gotten him going — his zone discipline and staying in his legs," Wallis said. "Since about Week 4 at Oregon, you could see it. He's just matured and is seeing the ball really well now."

The Lopes, who have won three of their last four, will look to clinch the series against UT Arlington on Saturday at 7.

"There's absolutely a lot of things we can build on," Wallis said. "I told the guys, 'Even if we somehow didn't win that game, I thought we played great baseball for nine innings.' If we keep doing that, it can propel us to great things at the end."

Yorke added, "If we stay together and keep the energy high, we can make a real run."