BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Grand Canyon hit three home runs as the Antelopes defeated CSU Bakersfield 9-3 in Western Athletic Conference baseball action Friday night.

The Antelopes scored the game's first run without a base hit. Thomas Lerouge worked out a walk and moved to second on an AJ Monarrez wild pitch. Austin Bull laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Lerouge to third. Lerouge came around to score on a Paul Panaccione sacrifice fly.

Krysthian Leal put the 'Lopes up 2-0 with an RBI single in the top of the second. With two outs in the second, Lerouge hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to right to increase the GCU lead to 4-0.

Max Carter led off the CSUB second with a double down the left field line that was followed up by a Cody White single through the left side. Ryan Grotjohn's fielder's choice scored Carter, as White reached safely on a throwing error by Zach Mallis, the Grand Canyon first baseman. White got to third on the play. White scored when Antelope starting pitcher Cameron Brendel attempted to pick off Grotjohn at first. Brennel's throw got away from Mallis enough for White to scamper home.

Mahlik Jones relieved Monarrez to start third and gave up a one-out home run to Garrison Schwartz. A two-out RBI single from CSUB's Jake Ortega in the bottom of the fourth cut the lead to 5-3 in favor of GCU (13-12, 2-2 WAC).  

The Antelopes put their first two batters on base in the fifth. Schwartz hit a foul ball down the left field line that White, the 'Runner third baseman, grabbed on his backhand at the fence for the first out. Preston Pavlica doubled to left to plate Bull. Mallis' ground out to second scored Panaccione for a 7-3 GCU lead. Brandon Smith went down 0-2 in the count before a Jones' wild pitch allowed Pavlica to score. Jones would hit Smith to bring up Leal who flew out to complete the inning. Pavlica smacked his first home run of the year, a shot to left, with two outs in the top of the seventh.

Brendel, who was making only his second start of the season for GCU, retired nine in a row at one point. He scattered 10 hits as he went the distance. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Pavlica would end the night 2-for-4 while Schwartz went 2-for-3. Bull was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lerouge drove in two runs and scored twice for Grand Canyon. Dustin Frailey led the 'Runners as he went 3-for-4. Ryan Grotjohn had two hits for CSUB.

CSUB (5-20, 0-4 WAC) will look to break a 10-game losing streak Saturday as the series continues at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through the CSUB Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE or tickets@csub.edu, or online at Vallitix.com. Coverage is also available online through the Roadrunner Sports Network (youtube.com/CSUBathletics).

~www.GoRunners.com~