ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  Sonoma State got a sparkling relief performance from Nick O'Brien to defeat Grand Canyon 5-1 on Friday in the first of a four game series at Seawolf Diamond.  O'Brien tossed four and a one-third perfect innings as the second-ranked Seawolves improve to 33-4 on the season.  The Antelopes drop to 8-27.

The Seawolves improve to 18-2 at home this season.  They are now 53-7 in their last 60 games at Seawolf Diamond, dating back to the beginning of 2007.

Grand Canyon starter Thomas Cantomer was very effective from the start, throwing three perfect innings.  The Antelopes were able to capture a lead with an RBI single by Austin Stockfisch in the third off Seawolf starter Matt Means. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Dave Herman led off with SSU's first hit of the game, a double.  He came around to score on an RBI ground out by Ian Bridges.  SSU tacked on two more runs in the seventh on back-to-back RBI doubles by Konrad Thieme and Nick Nosti.  The lead was pushed to 5-1 in the eighth when Bridges and Kyle Jones delivered run scoring singles. 

O'Brien relieved Means in the fourth inning and allowed no hits and no walks while striking out three.  He earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the year.  In 13 appearances, two of them starts, O'Brien has an ERA of 1.69.  He has allowed just two walks, with 27 strikeouts, in 37.1 innings of work.

Tyler Fockler tossed the final inning and two-thirds to pick up his third save.

Cantomer was tagged with the loss for Grand Canyon after yielding three runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings.

The series will continue tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 11:00.

Box Score