OREM, Utah – The first-place Grand Canyon University Lopes defeated Utah Valley University on Friday night in the series opener, 13-6, at UCCU Ballpark in Orem, Utah. 
 
The two teams traded runs early in the contest before GCU (29-14, 16-3 WAC), who is ranked 25th in the latest Perfect Game poll, used a four-run fourth and a five-run ninth to pull away from Utah Valley (15-27, 8-14 WAC). Spencer Olsen and Brandon Luna both had two hits, while Paul Vossen and Copper Hansen each homered on the night for the Wolverines.
 
"We've got to throw strikes and be on the attack, especially against a team as good as Grand Canyon," head UVU coach Eddie Smith said. "We showed that for six innings that if we go toe-to-toe with them, anything can happen. We need to have an attack mindset for tomorrow and execute better and we'll be OK." 
 
The Lopes used a single, double, and a walk to load the bases in the top of the first. Devin Smith pitched out of the jam getting the final out on a groundout to hold GCU off the scoreboard. The Wolverines threatened in the bottom of half of the inning. Trey Cutchen reached on a one-out walk before moving to second on a wild pitch. Nick Hull struck out Cole Jordan to end the UVU threat. 
 
Grand Canyon took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after a double by Jacob Wilson before Tayler Aguilar hit an opposite-field homer to left.
 
Brandon Luna started the third inning with a grounder past the diving second baseman for GCU and moved to second on a single by Cutchen. The Wolverines benefited from RBIs from three straight hitters to take a 4-2 lead. Mick Madsen got the Wolverines on the board with a double that sliced away from Aguilar in right field to bring home Luna. Cole Jordan grounded out up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Paul Vossen hit a no-doubt home run, his first of the year to right, to cap the scoring in the third. 
 
Grand Canyon fought back to regain the lead with a four-run fourth inning at 6-4, with Juan Colato providing the key hit with an RBI double to left. 
 
The Wolverines got one run back in the bottom of the fourth when Kyle Coburn tripled to right center field and later scored on an RBI single to right field by Luna to bring the Wolverines within one at 6-5. 
 
Josh Buckley hit a home run in the fifth to put the Lopes up 7-5. Utah Valley added a home run of their own in the sixth inning when Copper Hansen hit the second no-doubt homer for the Wolverines in the game to make it a one-run game at 7-6.
 
The Lopes added a run in the seventh after Cade Verdusco doubled to left-center and later scored on a wild pitch from third base. 
 
Grand Canyon added five runs in the ninth to put the game away. 
 
Nick Hull (5-1) was credited with the win going 5.2 innings. Devin Smith (1-2) was tagged with the loss for the Wolverines, going 5.0 frames. In relief, Blake Zeleny went 3.0 innings for the Wolverines and allowed just one hit with two punchouts. Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis picked up his first save on the season after tossing the final 3.1 innings for the Lopes. 
 
Utah Valley was led offensively by Luna who went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, while Olsen also went 2-for-4 in the contest for UVU. Vossen added a home run and two RBIs and Hansen also went deep in the game for the Wolverines. 
 
The Lopes and Wolverines will close the series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2:05 p.m. MT.