PHOENIX—Grand Canyon's Ben Mauseth's triple scored a pair of runs with one out in the bottom of the eighth to propel the Antelopes to a 4-2 victory over CSU Bakersfield in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Athletic Conference Saturday night.

Grand Canyon opened the scoring in the bottom of the fifth. Paul Panaccione walked on four straight pitches with two outs before Chad De La Guerra extended his WAC hitting streak to 24 with a single up the middle. Greg Saenz's infield single loaded the bases. Barragan immediately attempted to pick off Saenz at first. The throw got away from CSUB first baseman Soloman Williams (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College) at first, allowing Panaccione and De La Guerra to score.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Garrett Pierce (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) reached on an Antelopes' error. Logan Trowbridge (Sr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) singled. Pinch-hitter Kris Cayton (R-Sr., Manhattan Beach, Calif., LA Harbor College) drove in Pierce with a single to left, giving CSUB baserunners on the corners. Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) grounded into a fielder's choice, but Trowbridge scored on the play to tie it at two.  Gusbeth appeared to have been picked off at first, but there was no GCU player covering the bag at second, allowing Gusbeth to receive credit for his 10th stolen base of the season.  The Antelopes got out of the inning when GCU starter Andrew Naderer got Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) to ground out to short.

Humberto Aranda worked out a walk against Barragan to open the GCU seventh. Garrett Nimmo (So., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) entered the game in relief of Barragan and would begin his stint by facing the Antelopes' leadoff hitter, David Walker.  Walker's sacrifice bunt attempt was successful, advancing Aranda to second. Panaccione, the WAC leader in RBI's, hit a grounder back to Nimmo. Nimmo threw to first to get the out, but Aranda moved to third. De La Guerra was intentionally walked to bring up Saenz. The decision worked as Saenz grounded out to third to wrap up the inning.

Brian Kraft singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Thomas Lerouge reached on an infield single to bring up Mauseth.  Hein started in on the Mauseth's ball, which would end up cleanly going over his head in center. By the time the ball was thrown into the infield, Mauseth was on third as the game winning runs scored. Mauseth was thrown out at home as he attempted to score on an Aranda ground ball. Walker put 'Lopes on the corners with a single. Nimmo got Panaccione to pop out to short for the third out.

Cody White (So., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) singled to open the CSUB ninth but he was erased as Trowbridge grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Cayton struck out to end the game. Naderer posted his first complete game victory of the season as he tossed a five-hitter. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Kraft was the only player for either team to record two hits (2-for-4) as GCU outhit CSUB for the second night in a row 10-5. Pierce reached base in each of his three plate appearances (HBP, single, on an error) for CSUB. David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) had his 13-game hitting streak snapped, which tied him with Oscar Sanay (2011) for the sixth longest in school history.  Both teams committed three errors.

“Tonight we were outplayed in all three areas of the game, pitching, hitting, and defense,” said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen.

Grand Canyon (29-21, 16-6 WAC) now holds a one game lead over CSUB (30-18-1, 15-7-1 WAC) in the conference standings. Seattle U dropped a 7-4, 10-inning decision to Chicago State Saturday to fall to 15-8 in league play (25-23 overall). The Redhawks are 1.5 games back of the 'Lopes in third.  

“We still have the opportunity to do what we came here to do, which is leave here in first place in the conference,” Kernen said. “We will certainly look forward to that opportunity tomorrow.”

The Roadrunners and Antelopes conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. The Roadrunners return home for the final time Tuesday against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara. That game begins at 6 p.m. on May 12. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~GoRunners.com~