Lopes land early haymakers to take opener

Friday, April 17

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-24, 5-8

Air Force

17-19, 8-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Air Force	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	8	1
Grand Canyon	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	8	11	1

Photo by: Kaily Green

4/17/2026 10:34:00 PM | Baseball

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GCU scores 8 in first 2 innings; Guerrero delivers best start of season

By: Josh Hauser

Grand Canyon overwhelmed Air Force early Friday night, scoring eight runs in the first two innings to power an 8-1 win at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark over a Falcons team that was tied for second in the Mountain West standings.

The Lopes (13-24, 5-8 MW) delivered a riveting early-game performance, pairing an explosive offensive start with a season-best outing from junior right-hander JT Guerrero to take control of the series against Air Force (17-19, 8-5 MW) from the opening pitch.

"That's what we would call a haymaker," GCU interim head coach Nathan Bannister said. "Five-run inning to start the game is obviously something we look for but doesn't always happen. Then to back it up with a three-run inning — that's a statement inning to us."

The tone was set immediately in the first. Junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri and graduate catcher Mito Perez opened with singles before junior designated hitter Trevor Schmidt crushed a three-run home run to right field, his seventh of the season, for a quick 3-0 lead. After junior first baseman Cannon Peery walked and freshman third baseman Jose Lopez III singled, junior shortstop Camden Bates delivered a two-run single through the left side to cap a five-run inning.

"I knew he was going to throw a slow off-speed," Schmidt said of his home run. "I was just waiting for something up in the zone, and that's what I saw and took advantage of it."

GCU kept its foot on the gas in the second. Scaldeferri doubled, sophomore second baseman Jake Sanko reached on an error and Perez walked to load the bases before Schmidt struck again with a two-run double to right. Peery followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-0 and chase Air Force starter Gaines Estridge just 1 1/3 innings into the game.

Schmidt finished with three hits, five RBIs and eight total bases, sending his slugging percentage to a team-best .783 with his surge from the middle of the order.

"When we get firing on both cylinders like we did tonight, we're a really tough team to beat," Schmidt said. "We're working as a team, as a unit, and it's really starting to show."

With the early cushion, Guerrero delivered his best performance in a Lopes uniform. The right-hander worked seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out eight and consistently pitching ahead in counts.

"I thought JT was attacking all night," Bannister said. "It felt like he was 0-2, 1-2 a lot. Early pressure, early outs and good defense behind him. That's a sign of growth and something to build off of."

Guerrero emphasized his ability to stay aggressive and trust the plan throughout the outing.

"Just trying to get ahead, smother them with first-pitch strikes and winning the race to two strikes," Guerrero said. "Banni had a great plan, and we went out and executed it together."

Air Force's only run came in the sixth, when a leadoff double and walk set up an RBI single, but Guerrero limited the damage and quickly regained control by finishing the inning with a strikeout and double play.

Senior right-hander Elijah Higginbottom closed out the final two innings to secure the opener as GCU positioned itself for a potential series win heading into Saturday's 7 p.m. game at GCU Ballpark.

"I think it goes back to enjoying this one, then resetting for tomorrow," Bannister said. "We just want to play good baseball."