OREM, Utah—A balanced offensive attack led Grand Canyon to a 10-4 series-clinching win over Utah Valley on Sunday afternoon at Brent Brown Ballpark.
With the win, Grand Canyon clinches at least a share of the WAC regular season title as the 'Lopes improve to 27-24 overall on the season and wrap up league play with a 20-4 mark. UVU falls to 16-32 overall and 9-12 in WAC play.
Grand Canyon's Jack Schneider picked up the win on the mound to improve to 6-0 on the season. Schneider gave up only five hits and three runs with four strikeouts on the day.
Paxton Schultz took the setback on the mound in 5.1 innings of work. Schultz gave up four runs with an six strikeouts.
Trevor Peterson led the Wolverines at the plate with a 2-for-5 performance with one run scored.
Jake Berry went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a walk.
Callahan Moltzan went 1-for-1 with a run scored, while
Trevor Howell went 1-for-4 with one run and an RBI.
Grand Canyon got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Greg Saenz singled through the right side with bases loaded to score Garrison Schwartz and Ian Evans. Saenz two RBI gave the 'Lopes an early 2-0 lead. GCU then added a run in the top of the third and another in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 advantage after four innings of play.
Utah Valley cut into GCU's lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Peterson singled through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Trevor Howell then singled up the middle to send Peterson across the plate for UVU's first run of the game.
Zac Willis then doubled down the line to send Howell to third.
Jake Berry then knocked in both Willis and Howell with a single up the middle to cut the GCU lead to 4-3.
The 'Lopes got two runs back in the top of the seventh as Saenz hit a sacrifice fly that scored Schwartz before Tyler Wyatt took an RBI walk to first to score Preston Pavlica with bases loaded to give Grand Canyon a 6-3 lead through six and a half innings.
Grand Canyon continued the scoring in the top of the eighth inning as Tom Lerouge opened the inning with single to right center before advancing to second as Ian Evans grounded out to second. Pavilca then singled to right that scored Lerouge on a UVU throwing error. Saenz then singled to right to send Schwartz across the plate for GCU's second run of the inning to give the 'Lopes an 8-3 lead through 7.5 innings of play.
The Antelopes scored two more runs in the top of the ninth as Evans hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Tyler Wyatt from third. Schwartz then doubled to left to score Lerouge to give GCU a 10-3 advantage.
Utah Valley was able to get one run back in the bottom of the ninth as
David Modler singled through the right side to score Moltzan from second to cut into the GCU lead, 10-4.
Utah Valley will wrap up regular season play with a three-game series at Seattle U, May 18-20, at Bannerwood Park. The Wolverines will look to clinch a spot at the upcoming WAC Tournament with a victory in the Emerald City.