CBU Drops Saturday Contest and Series to the Lopes

Saturday, May 4

Phoenix, AZ

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

29-18, 14-9

Grand Canyon University

28-18, 18-5

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

CBU Drops Saturday Contest and Series to the Lopes

5/4/2024 10:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Mariah Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Digital Media

PHOENIX, AZ--- The California Baptist baseball program dropped its second game of the Western Athletic Conference weekend to Grand Canyon on Saturday evening. The Lopes picked up a 14-2 win and improved to an 18-5 conference record, securing first place by three games in the WAC standings. The Lancers move to 29-18 on the season and drop to 14-9 in conference play.

It was another hit fest for the Lopes on Saturday evening during the second contest of the crucial series. Grand Canyon snagged another early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first that was answered by a solo home run from Shayne Simpson to knot the game. The Lopes returned in the second inning with a pair of runs after a throwing error by the Lancers and a sacrifice fly. GCU added a single run to their lead in the fourth and fifth innings while limiting CBU to just six hits. Things spiraled for the Lancers in the bottom of the sixth inning after GCU was gifted three free runs via a pair of walks and after a batter was hit by a pitch. With the bases still loaded, Cody New gave up a grand slam that pushed the Lopes' lead to 13-1. GCU nailed another solo shot in the same inning for their fourteenth and final run. Julian Alvarez finalized the final scoreline with a solo home run in the top of the seventh for the Lancer's second run of the day and third of the weekend.

Grand Canyon finished the evening with 12 hits and three home runs, while California Baptist plated six hits and two homers on the night. The CBU pitching staff sat down six Lopes and walked five batters, whereas GCU struck-out five and walked just two Lancers.

California Baptist drops to fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with the series loss to Grand Canyon but will have the opportunity to avoid being swept on Sunday at noon at GCU Ballpark.