FRESNO, Calif. \u2014\u00a0Grand Canyon erased a four-run first-inning deficit and battled back to tie the game in the seventh inning, but Fresno State answered immediately and held on for a 10-8 win Thursday night at Pete Beiden Field.<\/p>\n
The Lopes (9-21, 1-6 MW) never let the game get away despite Fresno State’s five-run first inning, which turned junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri’s<\/a> leadoff home run into a quick 5-1 deficit. It marked the second straight series-opening game that\u00a0Scaldeferri opened the night with a home run, matching his Friday night feat against San Diego State.<\/p>\n GCU had a chance to seize even more momentum in that opening frame. After Scaldeferri’s blast, the Lopes loaded the bases with no outs but came away with only the one run, a missed chance that loomed large once Fresno State answered with five in the bottom half.<\/p>\n Despite the four-run hole, GCU chipped away steadily with single runs in the second and fourth before junior Trevor Schmidt<\/a> took over the middle innings. The designated hitter became the first Lopes batter to homer multiple times in a game this season, crushing solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Schmidt now has four home runs in his last six games.<\/p>\n The Lopes finally drew even in the seventh. Junior shortstop Camden Bates<\/a> opened the inning with a single, junior center fielder Griffin Cameron<\/a> followed with an infield hit, and another\u00a0Scaldeferri single loaded the bases with no outs. Graduate catcher Mito Perez<\/a> brought home Bates on a fielder’s choice before sophomore second baseman Jake Sanko<\/a> lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Cameron with the game-tying run at 8-8.<\/p>\n The tie did not last long. Fresno State answered in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out, two-run double, reclaiming a 10-8 lead and delivering the decisive swing.<\/p>\n Scaldeferri racked up four base hits atop the Lopes’ lineup, a new game high for a GCU batter this season.<\/p>\n GCU left 15 runners on base compared to Fresno State’s eight, including the bases-loaded, no-out chance in the first and another loaded opportunity in the seventh.<\/p>\n The final chance came in the ninth, when Perez singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Schmidt, after his two-homer night, was rung up looking on an inside pitch that was not in the zone to end the game.<\/p>\n The top third of GCU’s lineup combined for seven hits, five RBIs and two extra-base hits. The Lopes drew seven walks and were hit by pitches three times to amplify their 13 hits.<\/p>\n After the turbulent first inning, GCU’s bullpen stabilized the game, combining to limit Fresno State’s offense through the middle frames and giving the Lopes time to climb back into contention. Seniors Elijah Higginbottom<\/a> and Jace Smith<\/a> both had scoreless relief outings of over one inning.<\/p>\n The Lopes and Bulldogs will continue the three-game series on Friday night at 6 p.m.
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