STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton could not overcome an early deficit on Sunday afternoon at the Tarleton Baseball Complex, losing the series finale to the Grand Canyon Lopes, 6-2.
 
Tarleton (23-22, 7-15 WAC) was unable to recover from the first inning where the Lopes (30-19, 17-7) scored four runs off four hits and a Texan error. The Lopes managed to plate multiple runs in the first inning in all three games this weekend on their way to a series sweep.
 
Devon Patel (L, 2-2) got the start for Tarleton and allowed four runs on four hits in 1.0 innings. GCU hit a two-run home run and managed two RBI doubles to make it 4-0 after the first.
 
Zane Badmaev threw 3.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, striking out four and walking one. As a pitching staff, the Texans allowed just two runs on five hits over the final 8.0 frames. Zach Poe tossed 2.2 scoreless innings while Piercen McElyea threw the ninth, holding GCU off the board.
 
Tarleton scored its first run in the fourth as Trace Morrison singled in Mason Hammonds who led the inning off with a double to left field.
 
Jack Wagner hit in the other Texan run with a single up the middle, scoring Payton Pennington.
 
GCU scored lone runs in the fifth and sixth inning to add to their lead.
 
Pennington led Tarleton with two hits, a walk and a run scored.
 
Tarleton returns to action on Friday at 6:05 p.m. as they travel to Abilene for a three-game WAC series with the Abilene Christian Wildcats.