Baseball Wins NCAA Division II West Region Opener over Dixie State

Thursday, May 16

St. George, UT

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

35-16

No. 3 Dixie State

32-16

Grand Canyon

Dixie St.

Derek Mendoza

Baseball Wins NCAA Division II West Region Opener over Dixie State

5/16/2013 8:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Advance in winner's bracket to play second-seeded Sonoma State tomorrow

The storied Grand Canyon University baseball program waited 11 long years for their return to the postseason and took full advantage of the opportunity with a commanding 12-3 win over Pacific West Conference foe Dixie State at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah. With the win, the Antelopes, the No. 4 seed, improved to 35-16 overall, while the Red Storm, the third seed, dropped to 32-16.

Tonight's victory marked the first in postseason play since the program joined Division II in 1999. GCU went 0-2 in both 2000 and 2002 as part of the West Regional.

The 35 wins for GCU are the most since the 2002 squad won 38 games, also the last time that the ‘Lopes participated in the postseason.

GCU will advance in the winner’s bracket to play second-seeded Sonoma State tomorrow night at 6 p.m. (Arizona time). The Sea Wolves were an 11-2 winner over No. 5 seed Cal State L.A. earlier today. GCU will be designated home team in the game.

The ‘Lopes were 1-6 against Dixie State this season entering tonight’s game, as the Red Storm had won the last three meetings.

"When you've lost six out of seven versus any opponent, it can be very frustrating," said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. "I think the guys knew that we were in every ball game, and if we just played our style of game where we pitch to contact and play good defense, we would be in the middle of it. It was helpful to get that early lead."

Starter Andrew Naderer lasted 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 9 strikeouts, improving his record to 9-2 on the season. Over his last two starts against Dixie State, the recently tabbed Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year has fanned 19 Red Storm batters in 13.0 innings.

"Andrew did a fantastic job," added Stankiewicz. "He is growing up quick. He is just a freshman but he doesn't act like it."

"I just tried to go out there and throw the same way that I have all year and not change my game plan," said Naderer. "I wanted to attack the zone and make them hit my pitches. Just keep it simple, like it was any other game. When our offense scored five runs in the first inning, I knew I just needed to throw my pitches and make them beat me."

Offensively, Chris Lindmark led the way after going 3-for-4 with 2 runs and a team-high 3 RBI. Steven Swingle, Garrett Jeffries, and Derek Mendoza each collected 2 hits, while Mendoza and Brandon Smith recorded 2 RBI apiece.

GCU got on the board first after Paul Panaccione and Michael Pomeroy hit back-to-back singles with one out in the first before Swingle plated a run with an RBI double to right center. With the bases loaded and two outs, Smith, Lindmark, and Kyle Raidy drew back-to-back-to-back walks to hand the ‘Lopes an early 4-0 advantage. Brian Kraft, who led off the game, represented the 10^th GCU batter in the inning and was promptly hit by a pitch to plate yet another two-out run and extend the lead to 5-0.

The Red Storm scored their first run in the second inning when a one-out double moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on a groundout to second base.

GCU added a run in the third inning after Lindmark led off the frame with a single and came around to score on an error by the pitcher two batters later. In the fourth, Mendoza plated Swingle and Jeffries with an RBI double to left center, handing the ‘Lopes an 8-1 lead.

The ‘Lopes scored for the third straight inning when Panaccione crossed home plate on a fielding error by the shortstop, reaching base via a fielder’s choice bunt.

Continuing the trend, Lindmark connected for his first long ball of the season, sending a 3-1 pitch with two outs in the sixth inning over the right field fence as GCU scored in double-digits for the 11^th time this season, improving to 11-0 in those contests.

"I didn't try to do too much, it kind of just clicked tonight for me," said Lindmark. "It is someone different every night. I saw the ball well tonight."

The Red Storm loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom half of the seventh, but reliever Trent Wilson limited the damage by allowing just a sacrifice fly to make it a 10-2 game.

GCU responded in the top of the eighth as Smith collected his first hit of the game, a triple to right center to score Mendoza, who reached on a two-out error. Lindmark plated Smith with a single to right field one batter later, making it a 10-run ballgame at 12-2. Dixie State scratched across their third run of the game on a double play in the bottom of the eighth, ending the scoring on both sides for the game.

"We encouraged our guys to be more aggressive early," said Stankiewicz.

Fans can follow all the action tomorrow by visiting www.gculopes.com. Be sure to tune in at 5:45 p.m. (Arizona time) for the pregame show with GCU alum Michael Potter.

GCU 12, DX 3