Upcoming Event: Baseball versus MLB Desert Invitational on February 13, 2026
Baseball
vs MLB Desert Invitational
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, May 15
Stephenville, Texas
4 p.m. (MST)
Grand Canyon
30-24, 0
2
at
4
Tarleton State
22-31, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
8
0
Tarleton State
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
X
4
8
2
Photo by: Josh Hauser
Sanders, Barreras homers not enough
5/15/2025 7:08:00 PM | Baseball
Lyon tosses 7 1/3 innings without allowing earned run
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Grand Canyon junior right-hander Isaac Lyon posted an impressive start, and junior shortstop Emilio Barreras' solo home run gave the Lopes an eighth-inning lead. But GCU fell to Tarleton State 4-2 following a three-run eighth inning by the Texans on Thursday night.
The WAC seedings picture remains murky after Thursday's results, although Sacramento State claimed the top spot with its victory. The Lopes also had their spot as a top-four seed guaranteed, earning at least one bye and starting play in the conference tournament no sooner than Wednesday. GCU remains tied with Abilene Christian in the race for the No. 2 seed after both teams lost on Thursday.
GCU (30-23, 13-9 WAC) trailed 1-0 through two innings, but home runs from sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders and Barreras put the Lopes in front 2-1. Sanders' first career home run came in the third inning, while Barreras' solo homer came in the eighth to give GCU the late lead.
Tarleton State (22-31, 9-16 WAC) answered swiftly in its half of the inning, taking advantage of a leadoff double and two unearned runs to seize control. The Lopes were sloppy in the eighth with errors, wild pitches and passed balls aiding the Texans. After throwing out the would-be go-ahead run at the plate, the actual go-ahead run scored after a failed pickoff moved the runner to third and a wild pitch scored him.
GCU put the tying run on base in the ninth with a walk and a single, but two strikeouts and a fly out ended the threat.
Lyon pitched well for the Lopes, scattering six hits over 7 1/3 innings while allowing two unearned runs and striking out four. Lyon tossed a career-high 119 pitches in his final regular-season start.
Offensively, Barreras and Sanders provided all the runs for the Lopes with their solo shots. Sophomore catcher Luke Moeller added two hits and is hitting .320 in eight starts.
Grand Canyon returns to action Friday for Game 2 of the series which is scheduled for 1 p.m. (Phoenix time).
The WAC seedings picture remains murky after Thursday's results, although Sacramento State claimed the top spot with its victory. The Lopes also had their spot as a top-four seed guaranteed, earning at least one bye and starting play in the conference tournament no sooner than Wednesday. GCU remains tied with Abilene Christian in the race for the No. 2 seed after both teams lost on Thursday.
GCU (30-23, 13-9 WAC) trailed 1-0 through two innings, but home runs from sophomore second baseman Troy Sanders and Barreras put the Lopes in front 2-1. Sanders' first career home run came in the third inning, while Barreras' solo homer came in the eighth to give GCU the late lead.
Tarleton State (22-31, 9-16 WAC) answered swiftly in its half of the inning, taking advantage of a leadoff double and two unearned runs to seize control. The Lopes were sloppy in the eighth with errors, wild pitches and passed balls aiding the Texans. After throwing out the would-be go-ahead run at the plate, the actual go-ahead run scored after a failed pickoff moved the runner to third and a wild pitch scored him.
GCU put the tying run on base in the ninth with a walk and a single, but two strikeouts and a fly out ended the threat.
Lyon pitched well for the Lopes, scattering six hits over 7 1/3 innings while allowing two unearned runs and striking out four. Lyon tossed a career-high 119 pitches in his final regular-season start.
Offensively, Barreras and Sanders provided all the runs for the Lopes with their solo shots. Sophomore catcher Luke Moeller added two hits and is hitting .320 in eight starts.
Grand Canyon returns to action Friday for Game 2 of the series which is scheduled for 1 p.m. (Phoenix time).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jaques, Ethan (4-0)
L: Quinn, Walter (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Paton, Eli 1
HR: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1
RBI: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barreras, Emilio 1 ; Sanders, Troy 1
SB: Pelc, Eddy 1
HBP: Wakefield, Josh 1 ; Diaz, Michael 1
Batting:
2B: Morrison, Trace 1 ; Brewster, Lane 1
HR: Gostisha, Braden 1
RBI: McCloud, Slade 1 ; Perez, Jaime 1 ; Gostisha, Braden 1
SH: Perez, Jaime 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morrison, Trace 1 ; McCloud, Slade 1 ; Perez, Jaime 1 ; Gostisha, Braden 1
SB: McCloud, Slade 2
HBP: Shirey, Ike 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball❌ 𝐧𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞 ❌ Max Charles' diving grab
Friday, November 14
Dom goes DEEP at ASU in fall ball
Friday, November 14
GCU Baseball - WAC Tournament vs. Utah Tech - Highlights
Thursday, May 22
Baseball at Stanford - Barreras' game-winning double
Saturday, May 10