March 9, 2018
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PHOENIX ââ'¬" Early runs and strong pitching led Grand Canyon to an 8-1 win over Penn State in non-conference baseball action Thursday evening in GCU Ballpark.
GCU (4-8) jumped on the board in the first inning on back-to-back hits, as left fielder Brock Burton followed a Quin Cotton double with an RBI base-hit. The Lopes then took command in the second with a four-run inning, with four of the first five batters in the inning tallying a hit. Catcher Griffin Barnes, third baseman Zach Malis shortstop Marc Mumper and Cotton all tallied RBIs in the frame. Second baseman Tyler Wyatt drove in a run and then scored on a wild pitch in the fifth, and Cotton walked and eventually scored in the sixth.
Pinch hitter Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa.) slugged his first career home run in the ninth inning for the lone Penn State (4-6) run and third baseman Connor Klemann (Royersford, Pa.) and second baseman Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) both doubled to lead the Nittany Lions offense. GCU RHP Jake Wong (2-0) struck out 10 in six innings, allowing just four hits and no walks, while relievers Nick Ohanian and Coen Wynne combined for nine strikeouts over the last three innings.
RHP Conor Larkin (0-1) (Royersford, Pa.) started and worked 1 1/3 innings for Penn State, surrendering five runs, and then GCU scored three runs over the remainder of the game. RHP Myles Gayman (Greencastle, Pa.) allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings, and LHP Jeff Taylor (Lancaster, Pa.) was perfect in the final two innings striking out two.
Penn State's home opener is set for Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. against Mount St. Mary's. Season, flex and single-game tickets for the 2018 season, presented by Family Clothesline, are available online at GoPSUsports.com or by calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711.
Check back to GoPSUSports.com for continued updates on Penn State Baseball. Follow on Twitter at @PennStateBASE and Facebook at Penn State Baseball.