RENO (Interstat) — JT Guerrero struggled through three innings but Grand Canyon’s offense provided enough support as the Antelopes defeated Nevada 12-7 on Friday afternoon at William Peccole Park.

Grand Canyon improved to 20-30 overall, 12-18 in the Mountain West, while Nevada fell to 22-25, 13-14.

The Antelopes jumped on Nevada starter Desch early, sending eight batters to the plate in the first inning. Perez singled to right center, Schmidt singled to right, Peery delivered an RBI single, Johns added an RBI single, and Ohland grounded out to drive in another run, giving Grand Canyon a 4-0 lead.

The Antelopes added three more in the second. Bates singled, Cameron singled, and Perez singled up the middle for an RBI. Schmidt then grounded out to score Cameron, making it 7-0. Nevada turned to Eric Valdez, who struck out Johns to end the inning.

Nevada answered in the bottom of the second against Guerrero. Yamaguchi walked, and Junhyuk Kwon homered to deep center, scoring two. Jackson Waller followed with a solo homer to left, cutting the lead to 7-3. Guerrero settled briefly, getting Doyle to ground out, but Harvey singled before Metcho flied out and Quiban grounded out.

In the third, Nevada tied the game. After two quick outs, Yamaguchi walked and Kwon singled. Waller singled to right to drive in Yamaguchi, and Jacob Doyle launched a three-run homer to deep left, scoring Kwon and Waller to make it 7-7. Guerrero was pulled after three innings, allowing seven earned runs on no hits, with two strikeouts and four walks.

Grand Canyon regained the lead in the sixth. Against Nevada reliever Jordan Giacomini, Bates was hit by a pitch, Cameron popped out, and Perez singled to put runners at the corners. Schmidt then homered to right center, a three-run shot that put the Antelopes ahead 10-7. Giacomini allowed three earned runs on two hits in one inning.

The Antelopes added insurance in the seventh. Ohland was hit by a pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, and Bianchina walked. Bates walked to load the bases, and Cameron’s sacrifice fly scored Ohland to make it 11-7. Schmidt struck out to end the inning.

Grand Canyon capped the scoring in the eighth when Johns homered to left center off Tierney, making it 12-7. Bianchina added a solo homer in the ninth off Miller.

Nevada threatened in the ninth against Grand Canyon reliever Ahern, but only managed a single from Mikey before Yamaguchi grounded out to end the game.

Valdez pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief for Nevada, allowing one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts.

Waller finished 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs for Nevada. Kwon went 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs. Doyle was 1 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs. Harvey added two hits.

For Grand Canyon, Perez had three hits, Schmidt had three hits including the go-ahead homer, and Johns added two hits including a homer.

The game was the second of a three-game series and the first after Nevada’s 13-9 win on Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Grand Canyon 6, Nevada 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Grand Canyon a 54.00 percent probability to win.