The Seattle University offense enjoyed one of its better nights, but the Grand Canyon University offense was a little more productive Friday night, as the Antelopes defeated the Redhawks 12-8 in a Western Athletic Conference contest at Brazell Stadium.
The Antelopes struck first in the second inning when Chad De La Guerra and Matt Haggerty led off with back-to-back singles, and Garrison Schwartz advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Greg Saenz’s grounder to shortstop was deep enough for De La Guerra to score the initial run of the game.
Seattle U responded to Grand Canyon’s run in the top of the third inning, starting with a one-out double down the left field line by Colin Peterson (Bellingham, Wash.). Griffin Andreychuk (Nanaimo, B.C.) followed with a single to center field, and the throw into the infield was off-line, allowing Peterson to score from third base.
Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) led off the fourth inning with a double down the left field line, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sheldon Stober (Kent, Wash.), and, after a walk drawn by Sean Sutton (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Carpenter (Milton, Wash.). Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) drew a two-out walk, and Peterson drove in Sutton with a single to right field, increasing the Redhawk lead to 3-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, Saenz picked up another RBI with a groundout that scored De La Guerra. The Redhawks reestablished their two-run advantage in the top of the fifth inning as Dalton Hurd (Bend, Ore.) led off with a single and came around to score on a double to right field by Olson.
Seattle U starter Will Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.) hit Humberto Aranda to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, and then he gave up singles to Thomas Lerouge and David Walker to load the bases. Aranda would score on an RBI fielder’s choice grounder by Paul Panaccione, and De La Guerra was hit by a pitch to once again load the bases.
Haggarty drove in Walker with another fielder’s choice grounder, and a Redhawk error allowed Panaccione to score from second base. After a single by Schwartz, Saenz hit a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Antelopes an 8-4 lead.
The Redhawks attempted to start their comeback in the top of the sixth inning, as Carpenter led off with a single and advanced to second on a Grand Canyon error. Andreychuk walked to load the bases, and Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) followed with a single into left-center field, scoring Carpenter and Peterson, with Andreychuk scoring after the ball was misplayed by the Antelope defense.
Grand Canyon (27-19, 14-4 WAC) increased its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Walker led off with a single, advanced to third on a single by De La Guerra, and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder hit by Haggerty. The Antelopes would score two more runs in the seventh inning to extend their lead to four runs, which would be the final margin after each team scored a run in the eighth inning.
“Although losing is never good, I saw some good things tonight from our guys, especially their ability to fight back and score runs several times after Grand Canyon scored,” Seattle U head coach Donny Harrel said. “We just need to get better pitching tomorrow and I think we will be fine.”
Coley Bruns was credited with the victory for the Antelopes after allowing seven hits, three walks, and four runs in five innings of work, while Travis Garcia-Perreira picked up the save after 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief. Dennis took the loss for the Redhawks, giving up eight hits, two walks, and eight runs, seven of them earned, in 4 2/3 innings on the mound.
Olson and Peterson each went 3-for-5 to lead the Redhawks, who finished with 13 hits but stranded 12 runners on base. Lerouge went 3-for-5 to lead the Antelopes, while four other Grand Canyon players earned two hits apiece as the home team finished with 14 hits. Although he was just 1-for-3, Saenz led all players with five runs batted in during the night.
Seattle University (22-22, 13-6 WAC) and Grand Canyon face off in game two of the weekend series Saturday, May 2, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Brazell Stadium. Jake Eastman will broadcast the game live on GoSeattleU.com, beginning with the pregame show shortly before first pitch.