Grand Canyon (12-8, 3-1) plays its first home Pacific West Conference games Tuesday with a doubleheader against Hawai’i Hilo (12-3, 7-2).
The Antelopes will play 10 games (five doubleheaders) in the next eight days. They’ll entertain the Vulcans Tuesday and Wednesday with doubleheaders beginning at noon at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium.
GCU hasn’t played at home since Feb. 19, but have won seven straight in Phoenix. The Antelopes took last week off after winning two straight weekend series in San Francisco. GCU won its opening conference series at Academy of Art, 3-1, and went 2-1 at San Francisco State March 9-10.
“The week off was good for us,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson. “We worked some kinks out. Our players understand of the games coming up and are excited about getting back on the field”
Along with the four-game set with Hilo. GCU welcomes Chaminade for a pair of games Saturday and Hawai’i Pacific for doubleheaders March 26-27. The 10-games match four of the five teams currently at the top of the PacWest standings. Hawai’i Pacific lead the league with a 9-1 PacWest mark, one and one-half games ahead of Hilo (7-2). GCU (3-1), California Baptist (5-3) and Chaminade (5-3) are all three games out.
“Hilo always has a good team. We’ll have to play our best game,” added Pierson. “We need to use this (homestand) to jump-start our momentum for the rest of the season.”
GCU went 1-3 against Hilo last season and lead the all-time series 13-12. The teams have split the eight games over the last two seasons.
All five doubleheaders begin at noon. Fans unable to attend can follow the game with live stats. A link to the live coverage is available at
www.GCULopes.com.