A two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth by Cannon Peery propelled Grand Canyon to a 3-1 win over No. 24 Nebraska Monday in Phoenix. The loss brought the Huskers’ first weekend record to 2-2.
Nebraska took an early lead in the top of the first. Cayden Brumbaugh led off the game with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a groundout by Dylan Carey. The Huskers loaded the bases in the second, but did not score. With two on and none out, the Lopes brought on Elijah Higginbottom, who got Grand Canyon out of the jam and took over the game.
Higginbottom took over the game, throwing five innings of shutout, one-hit ball. Meanwhile, the Lopes tied the game in the fifth. Then in the bottom of the eighth, back-to-back singles put two on. The runners moved up on a wild pitch. Then with two, Peery doubled down the left-field line, scoring two to give the Lopes the lead.
Cale Sanderson was the lone Huskers to get two hits. He also had a double to pace the Nebraska offense. Emilio Barreras led the GCU offense by going 3-for-4 at the top of the Lopes lineup. Jackson Brockett started on the mound for NU and allowed six hits and one run in six innings.
Nebraska is next in action Friday as the Huskers head to Lafayette, La., to take on Louisiana. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m., with pregame at 5:30 p.m. on KLIN.