‘Lopes Take Pair From Toros as CSUDH Baseball Falls 6-1 and 8-1
April 21, 2007

Complete Box Scores »»  Game 1    Game 2

Carson, CA - Grand Canyon University used a pair of strong starting pitching performances and some timely hitting to sweep Saturday afternoon’s twinbill, 6-1 and 8-1, as well as the season series. With the pair of losses the Toros fall to 13-30 and GCU improves to 28-18.

In the opener Brian Evans started the top of the 3rd with a single to center followed by a sacrifice bunt and a bunt single, putting runners on the corners with one out. After a foul out for the second out of the inning, Cody Johns drove the first pitch he saw to right, bringing home Evans for the first run of the game.

GCU would tack on another run in the top of the 4th on an RBI single to center by Evans.

‘Lopes starting pitcher Brian Broderick came out sharp and was perfect until Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) stepped into the box with one out in the 4th and laced a 2-2 pitch up the middle.

After the ‘Lopes added their third run of the game in the top of the 6th, Matt Magallon (Glendale, CA/Bellarmine-Jefferson HS) led off the bottom of the inning with hustle double to right center followed by a single to the shortstop by David Leyva (Los Angeles, CA/Junipero Serra HS) to put runners on the corners with no outs.

CSUDH got its first run of the game on a wild pitch, allowing Magallon to score from third.

GCU closer Josiah Ziegler entered the game to start the 8th and kept the Toro bats at bay, striking out four and allowing one hit for his seven save of the year

Broderick received the win, striking out nine batters in seven innings on the mound, allowing one run on three hits with no walks while tossing 102 pitches.

In the nightcap Toro starter Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/LA Harbor College) and ‘Lopes starter Brandon Evans came out firing, each allowing only two hits over the first three innings.

After retiring the first two batters in the top of the 4th, Steve Lux laced a double down the right field line for GCU and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Evans stepped in the box next drove home Lux from third with a single to center.

GCU added another run in the top of the 5th before Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.) took the 2-1 pitch and drove it through the left side of the infield for a single. Marquez proceeded to steal second and third, and was brought home on a single to left by Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) for the Toros’ lone run of the game.

The ‘Lopes batters figured out Phillips in the top of the 6th, tagging him for five run on six hits to extend their lead to 7-1, and added their final run in the top of the 7th in the 8-1 win.

CSUDH will next be in action Friday, April 27 when they host last year’s CCAA Champions in Chico State, with first pitch of the four-game series slated for 2:00 pm on Toro Field.