Dixie State suffered its first WAC series loss of the 2022 season as Grand Canyon claimed game two of the weekend set, 19-7 in seven innings, on Saturday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field.  
 
GCU (22-11/12-2 WAC) bolted out to a quick 5-0 lead on the strength of a Jacob Wilson first inning home run, and a four-run third that saw the Lopes send 10 batters to the plate.
 
The Trailblazers (14-16/8-6 WAC) battled back in the home half of the third when Shane Taylor belted his fourth homer of the season, a two-run opposite field shot to left that also scored Jagun Leavitt, who doubled to lead off the frame.
 
However GCU countered with two runs in the fifth to push its lead back to five. Then after a Parker Schmidt (1) long ball cut the Blazer deficit to 7-3, the Lopes tacked on two runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to cruise to the run-rule win.
 
Schmidt finished with two of Dixie State's seven hits on the afternoon.
 
Dixie State will look to avoid the series sweep in Sunday's finale, which begins at 12 noon.