The Nevada Wolf Pack baseball team lost 9-3 to Grand Canyon University on May 16 at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park, ending their regular season. The loss leaves Nevada with a record of 24-26 as they prepare for the upcoming Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship.
This game was important as it marked the final regular season contest before the postseason tournament. The Wolf Pack will enter the championship as the fourth seed and are scheduled to play No. 5 New Mexico on Thursday, May 21 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.
During Saturday’s game, Nevada took an early lead after a dropped pop-up by GCU’s first baseman allowed a run in the first inning. However, Grand Canyon University responded quickly with two runs in the second inning and three more in the third to establish control of the game. Mito Perez drove in what would become the go-ahead run for GCU with a two-out single off Nevada pitcher Alessandro Castro. Tanner Johns and Jose Lopez contributed RBI doubles for GCU during this stretch.
Castro was charged with five runs on eleven hits over five innings pitched and recorded seven strikeouts but took his fourth loss of the season. For GCU, Nicholas Robb earned his sixth win by pitching four and two-thirds scoreless innings out of relief, striking out four batters.
Lee Matsuzaki provided offense for Nevada with a two-run home run in the fourth inning that cut into GCU’s lead. Jackson Waller also had a strong performance at bat for Nevada, finishing three-for-four on hits during his second three-hit game of the series.
As postseason play approaches, Nevada will look to regroup and focus on their opening matchup against New Mexico next week.
