Grand Canyon Falls to No. 9 Oregon, Prepares for Series Against Oregon State
EUGENE, Ore. — The Grand Canyon University Lopes faced a tough defeat Wednesday, losing to No. 9 Oregon by a score of 16-6 at PK Park and splitting the two-game series. This loss marked the end of their five-game winning streak, just a day after they halted the Ducks’ impressive 11-game win streak.
The Lopes’ pitching, known for having the nation’s third-lowest walk rate, struggled significantly. Oregon capitalized on six walks, two hit batsmen, and five costly errors from Grand Canyon, racking up 16 runs on 16 hits. The Ducks exploded for 10 runs in the first two innings, dominating early with symmetrical five-run scoring frames.
Grand Canyon tried to rally back, initiating a series of responses beginning with a two-run inning in the third. Junior first baseman Zach Yorke drove in the Lopes’ first run with an RBI double. They continued to fight, with three consecutive two-run innings that included contributions from graduate center fielder Eddy Pelc, who drew a bases-loaded walk, and sophomore Billy Scaldeferri, who scored on a wild pitch.
Despite narrowing the score to 10-4 after the fourth inning, Oregon pulled ahead once again, eventually invoking the run rule with four unanswered runs in the eighth inning. Freshman right-hander Ross Clark stood out for the Lopes, providing 3 1/3 innings of two-run baseball despite the overall struggle on the mound.
Looking ahead, Grand Canyon will remain in Oregon for three weekend games against Oregon State, with Friday’s matchup set for 5:30 p.m. This series will be crucial as the Lopes aim to bounce back from their recent loss.
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