BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Grand Canyon (9-9, 2-1 WAC) handed Bakersfield (7-11, 1-1 WAC) a 9-2 loss in the Western Athletic Conference series finale between the two schools Sunday at Hardt Field.

Humberto Aranda's RBI double in the top of the first gave the Antelopes an early lead. Despite having runners on second and third in the bottom of the fourth with no outs, Bakersfield could only tie the game on a Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) sacrifice fly.

The 'Lopes appeared to have tied the score in the top of the fifth, but David Walker who came around on a Paul Panaccione double. Walker beat the cutoff throw from the outfield, but he over slid the plate and was tagged out to end the inning.

A pair of Austin Davis (R-So., Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) wild pitches with two outs and a Jon Kealoha RBI gave the 'Lopes a 5-2 lead in the top of the sixth. Chance Gusbeth (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) threw out Josh Ethier at the plate to end the inning.

After being held to just two hits by GCU starter Coley Bruns through the first six innings, the Roadrunners opened the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back singles from Carter and Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS). Both moved up a base on a Nick Vehlewald (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) ground out. Ross Hough (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Central Arizona College) drove in Carter with a sacrifice fly after Carter slid in under the throw from Antelope centerfielder Brandon Smith. David Metzgar (Fr., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) struck out to end the inning.

Grand Canyon, which won two of the three games in its return to the WAC after a 16-year absence, would put the game away with a four-run rally in the top of the eighth. The Antelopes added one more in the ninth.

Bruns would only give up four hits as he needed 110 pitches for the complete game. He struck out six and walked two. Aranda went 4-for-5 while Panaccione and Walker each were 3-for-4.

The Roadrunners travel to Cal State Northridge Wednesday for a 3 p.m. start.

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