GCU drops its MLB Desert Invitational finale

Sunday, February 15

Sloan Park • Mesa, Ariz.

5:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-2

Nebraska

3-0

Nebraska

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd

2/15/2026 8:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lopes fall to Nebraska at Mesa's Sloan Park

By: Josh Hauser

MESA, Ariz. — Grand Canyon pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts but fell 9-1 to Nebraska on Sunday evening at Sloan Park in its final game as part of the MLB Desert Invitational.

Nebraska scored the game's first four runs, but the Lopes (1-2) threatened a quick response in the fourth inning. GCU loaded the bases with no outs after singles by graduate catcher Mito Perez and senior designated hitter Dominic Chacon followed by a walk from junior first baseman Cannon Peery. Freshman left fielder Tanner Johns drove in the Lopes' first run on a sacrifice fly, but the Lopes stranded a pair of runners after back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

Nebraska (3-0) broke through in the third inning and gradually pulled away, highlighted by a five-run eighth that put the game out of reach. The Huskers will play one more game in the tournament, looking to keep an unblemished record that already included wins over consistent NCAA Tournament contenders in UConn and Northeastern.

GCU got scoreless relief from sophomore right-hander Billy Gregory (five strikeouts in two innings) and senior righty Jace Smith (faced the minimum in one inning). They followed junior lefty Chase Frey who got his first start, tossing 3 1/3 innings and surrendering three runs with five strikeouts.

Perez reached three times in the game with a single, a hit by pitch and a walk. He raised his batting average to .429 and his on-base percentage to .615, both team-leading marks.

GCU will return to Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark where it began the season 1-0 with a Friday 10-0 win over Northeastern. The Lopes open a four-game set on Thursday against Oklahoma State.