Completed Event: Baseball versus Penn State on February 14, 2026 , Loss , 3, to, 9
Baseball
vs Penn State
L 3-9
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 21
Phoenix, Ariz.
2 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-4
7
vs
10
Oklahoma State
3-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Oklahoma State
0
0
5
4
0
1
0
0
0
10
16
0
Grand Canyon
2
0
3
0
0
0
2
0
0
7
8
0
Photo by: Jayden Todd
Big middle innings hard to overcome for Lopes
2/21/2026 8:53:00 PM | Baseball
GCU took early lead, recovered from 5-run 3rd to tie game but fell to Oklahoma State
Grand Canyon showed resilience throughout Saturday afternoon, but a pair of big innings by Oklahoma State proved decisive in a 10-7 loss at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.
The Cowboys (3-3) took a 2-1 series edge with the Lopes (2-4) looking to force a tie in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale.
Senior designated hitter Mito Perez and junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri had multi-hit days for GCU.
The Lopes wasted no time grabbing momentum, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Freshman left fielder Tanner Johns had a two-out base knock up the middle to drive in a pair of runners and give GCU an early 2-0 lead.
That edge, however, was short-lived as the Cowboys broke through with a five-run third inning to swing the game in their favor.
GCU answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the third to erase the deficit. After junior first baseman Cannon Peery walked for the second time and Johns was hit by a pitch, Scaldeferri hit his first home run of the season to knot the score at 5.
The turning point came in the fourth inning when the Cowboys responded with four more runs after their first five batters reached, reclaiming control of the game.
From there, GCU continued to battle to stay within striking distance. Oklahoma State added a single run in the sixth, but the Lopes' bullpen helped stabilize things and prevent the game from getting out of hand.
The Lopes made a push in the seventh inning. Peery launched a two-run home run to right field with two outs, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Peery finished with his third home run of the season, three runs scored and reached base three times.
GCU got in position in the eighth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. But a picked off runner and strikeout quickly put a dent in GCU's comeback hopes.
On the mound, GCU used five pitchers. After early struggles, Jace Smith, Dillon Orr and Cam Cunnings quieted down the Oklahoma State offense. The trio combined for six innings of one-run work to keep GCU in the game late. Smith struck out five and walked none in his 2 2/3 innings.
Grand Canyon will look to bounce back and force a tie in the four-game series when the Lopes return to Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark for Sunday's 1 p.m. finale.
The Cowboys (3-3) took a 2-1 series edge with the Lopes (2-4) looking to force a tie in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale.
Senior designated hitter Mito Perez and junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri had multi-hit days for GCU.
The Lopes wasted no time grabbing momentum, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Freshman left fielder Tanner Johns had a two-out base knock up the middle to drive in a pair of runners and give GCU an early 2-0 lead.
That edge, however, was short-lived as the Cowboys broke through with a five-run third inning to swing the game in their favor.
GCU answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the third to erase the deficit. After junior first baseman Cannon Peery walked for the second time and Johns was hit by a pitch, Scaldeferri hit his first home run of the season to knot the score at 5.
The turning point came in the fourth inning when the Cowboys responded with four more runs after their first five batters reached, reclaiming control of the game.
From there, GCU continued to battle to stay within striking distance. Oklahoma State added a single run in the sixth, but the Lopes' bullpen helped stabilize things and prevent the game from getting out of hand.
The Lopes made a push in the seventh inning. Peery launched a two-run home run to right field with two outs, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Peery finished with his third home run of the season, three runs scored and reached base three times.
GCU got in position in the eighth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. But a picked off runner and strikeout quickly put a dent in GCU's comeback hopes.
On the mound, GCU used five pitchers. After early struggles, Jace Smith, Dillon Orr and Cam Cunnings quieted down the Oklahoma State offense. The trio combined for six innings of one-run work to keep GCU in the game late. Smith struck out five and walked none in his 2 2/3 innings.
Grand Canyon will look to bounce back and force a tie in the four-game series when the Lopes return to Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark for Sunday's 1 p.m. finale.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fyke, Kai (1-0)
L: Frey, Chase (0-2)
S: Wech, Noah (1)
Batting:
2B: Ritchie, Kollin 1 ; Norman, Sebastian 1 ; Essex, Ezra 1
3B: Ritchie, Kollin 1
HR: Meola, Aidan 1
RBI: Ritchie, Kollin 2 ; Norman, Sebastian 2 ; Meola, Aidan 3 ; Bowen, Terrance 1 ; Wallace, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ritchie, Kollin 3 ; Norman, Sebastian 1 ; Essex, Ezra 2 ; Meola, Aidan 2 ; Wallace, Danny 2
SB: Thompson, Brock 1 ; Norman, Sebastian 2
Batting:
HR: Scaldeferri, Billy 1 ; Peery, Cannon 1
RBI: Scaldeferri, Billy 3 ; Peery, Cannon 2 ; Johns, Tanner 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Scaldeferri, Billy 1 ; Peery, Cannon 3 ; Nielsen, Jarret 1 ; Perez, Mito 1 ; Johns, Tanner 1
SB: Perez, Mito 1
HBP: Bates, Camden 2 ; Johns, Tanner 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
3
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballGCU Baseball vs. Oklahoma State (Game 1) - Highlights
Friday, February 20
GCU Baseball vs. Northeastern - Highlights
Saturday, February 14
❌ 𝐧𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞 ❌ Max Charles' diving grab
Friday, November 14
Dom goes DEEP at ASU in fall ball
Friday, November 14