PHOENIX (Interstat) — Grand Canyon erupted for five runs in the fifth inning and cruised to a 10-3 victory over BYU on Monday evening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Antelopes improved to 15-26 overall while the Cougars dropped to 22-21. Grand Canyon shortstop Camden Bates went 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Antelopes.

BYU struck first in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Robinson doubled to left field, and Jones singled to third base. Robinson scored from second on the play and advanced to third on a throwing error by Lopez, giving the Cougars an early 1-0 lead. The Cougars added two more runs in the inning on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, making it 3-0.

Grand Canyon answered in the bottom of the second. Schmidt led off with a hit by pitch and Peery singled. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Lopez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chacon lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Schmidt, and Bates followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Peery, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Antelopes took the lead for good in the third inning. Scaldeferri singled and Sanko walked. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Schmidt doubled down the right field line, driving in both runs to put Grand Canyon ahead 4-3. BYU made a pitching change but the Antelopes loaded the bases later in the inning but could not add to the lead.

Grand Canyon extended its advantage in the fourth inning when Bates led off with a solo home run to deep left field, making the score 5-3. BYU responded in the top of the fifth when Ezra McNaughton homered to left field, his only hit of the game, to cut the lead to 5-4.

The decisive fifth inning came in the bottom half. Perez was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Schmidt singled, moving Perez to third. After a wild pitch put Schmidt on second, Peery struck out. Lopez flied out, but Chacon walked to load the bases. Bates then drew a walk, forcing in a run and extending the lead to 6-4. A pitching change by BYU did not stem the tide. Cameron singled up the middle with the bases loaded, driving in two runs and making it 8-4. Scaldeferri followed with a double to deep left field, clearing the bases with two more RBIs, but was thrown out trying for third. The play put Grand Canyon ahead 10-4, and BYU could not recover.

Grand Canyon’s pitching staff held BYU to three runs on 11 hits. Billy Gregory tossed three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out one. Elijah Higginbottom worked 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three hits and one earned run while striking out two. Nicholas Robb earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of relief, giving up only three hits and no earned runs while striking out two.

BYU’s bullpen also performed well in spots. Brock Snow struck out two in a perfect eighth inning, Dan Brousseau pitched a scoreless seventh with one strikeout, and Jaxon Clayton retired three of four batters faced in the sixth with one strikeout. However, the Cougars could not overcome the five-run fifth.

BYU managed to put runners on base throughout the game but could not bring them home after the first inning. The Cougars left 10 runners on base and struck out 10 times. Easton Jones went 2 for 5 with a triple and an RBI. McNaughton was 1 for 4 with a home run. The Cougars had multiple opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings but could not capitalize.

Grand Canyon’s offensive attack was balanced. Trevor Schmidt went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Scaldeferri doubled and drove in two runs. The Antelopes also drew seven walks and were hit by three pitches.

The game turned decisively in the fifth inning when Grand Canyon sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on three hits, two walks, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly. The outburst broke open what had been a one-run game and gave the Antelopes a comfortable cushion.

BYU’s loss ended a two-game winning streak after victories at Arizona. Grand Canyon snapped a brief two-game losing skid and earned its first win since April 19 against Air Force.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a final score of BYU 6, Grand Canyon 4, while the Interstat ELO system gave Grand Canyon a 52.40 percent probability to win.