PHOENIX – A seven-run seventh inning doomed Utah Valley University in an 11-2 loss at Grand Canyon University on Saturday at GCU Ballpark.
 
The Wolverines (12-17, 4-4) led 2-1 in the sixth inning before the Lopes (16-14, 7-1) scored twice in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead before the crooked number in the seventh broke the game open. The win clinches the 12th straight WAC series win for GCU and ends the Wolverines streak of three straight series wins this season.
 
Each teams scored a run in the first before both starting pitchers settled into what looked like it would be a pitcher's duel. GCU starter Jake Repavich retired 12 in a row at one point while UVU starter Walker Ramsey sat down nine straight Lopes in the middle innings.

Repavich allowed two runs on just three hits while striking out seven and improved to 2-2 with the win. Ramsey (2-4) took the loss after surrendering three runs (five earned) on nine hits for the Wolverines.
 
With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth, Utah Valley took a 2-1 lead after Ethan Payne doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a groundout by Pacen Hayes and came in to score on an RBI base hit by Michael Beltran.
 
Grand Canyon tied it in the sixth after Quin Cotton singled to lead off and then scored when Ian Evans tripled to right-center. Zach Malis hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Evans and give the Lopes a 3-2 lead.
 
In the seventh, Grand Canyon loaded the bases with nobody out before reliever Jake Carr nearly worked out of it by retiring the next two hitters on a lineout to short and a fly ball to shallow right. Evans came through again though, lining a two-out base hit to center to give GCU a 5-2 lead.
 
After a walk loaded the bases again, Preston Pavlica broke the game open with a grand slam to left to make it a 9-2 game. The Lopes seventh run of the frame came after Tyler Wyatt doubled for the second time in the inning and then scored on a Griffin Barnes base hit. Grand Canyon sent 12 batters to the plate with seven hits in the seventh. All seven runs came in were team unearned after an error earlier in the inning came back to hurt the Wolverines.

Utah Valley finished with four hits on the day while Grand Canyon had 15 hits, with Evans finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Pavlica also driving in four runs. 
 
The series concludes on Sunday at noon MST and 1 p.m. MDT in Utah, with Kaden Schmitt looking to help Utah Valley avoid the series sweep.