Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Alumni Game on January 31, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Baseball
1 p.m.
vs Alumni Game
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, May 19
St. George, UT
11 a.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
No. 6 Chico State
Steven Swingle
Preview: NCAA Division II West Regional Championship Round
5/18/2013 10:16:00β―PM | Baseball
Must win twice in order to advance to NCAA Division II College World Series
The Grand Canyon University baseball team, the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II Baseball West Regional, has played their way into the championship round by twice defeating Sonoma State, including tonight's 8-7 victory in their first elimination game. The Antelopes opened the tournament with a convincing 12-3 victory over PacWest Conference foe Dixie State. Prior to this season, GCU had gone 0-4 in postseason games since joining Division II in 1999. The 'Lopes are slated to face sixth-seeded Chico State of the CCAA Conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. (Arizona time). GCU must win two games against the Wildcats to advance to the College World Series in Cary, North Carolina beginning on May 25, while Chico State needs just one victory. Fans can follow the action via live stats, audio, and video beginning at 10:45 a.m. (Arizona time) by visiting www.gculopes.com.
Click here for the game recap from tonight.
Click here to view the postgame press conference with Andy Stankiewicz, Malcolm Purdy, and Paul Panaccione.
Click here for more information on the West Regional.
Click here to view a video preview with Michael Potter for tomorrow's game.
GAME NOTES
VS. CHICO STATE: GCU is 9-34 all-time against the Wildcats. Prior to yesterday’s 4-1 GCU loss, the teams had not played one another since the 2009 season. Chico State swept a four-game series against the ‘Lopes that season and also won their four games against GCU in 2008.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This year marks the first time since 2002 that GCU will participate in the West Regionals. The ‘Lopes have a storied postseason past, having won four NAIA National Championships in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1986. During their time in NAIA, GCU won 15 District VII titles and 11 Area 2 crowns. As members of the CCAA, GCU won the 1999 regular season championship and competed in the Division II West Regionals in 2000 and 2002. Prior to this season, the ‘Lopes had not won a postseason game since joining Division II in 1999.
PACWEST CHAMPS!: For the first time since joining the PacWest Conference in 2008, GCU earned a share of the conference title with California Baptist as both posted 26-10 marks. The 26 in-conference victories are the most for the ‘Lopes over the past five years.
PACWEST HONOR ROLL: Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz was voted PacWest Coach of the Year, while freshman left-hander Andrew Naderer garnered Freshman of the Year honors. Steven Swingle (catcher), Garrett Jeffries (designated hitter), and Coley Bruns (pitcher) were named First Team All-Conference; Naderer (pitcher) was selected to the Second Team; and Harlyn Griffiths (outfielder) earned Third Team All-Conference accolades.
RACKING UP THE WINS: The 'Lopes have won 37 games this season, their most victories since the 2002 squad won 38 games. That team was also the last to make a trip to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
GOING STREAKING: GCU strung together a 20-game win streak from March 8-April 6, the longest such streak in the program since winning a school-best 27 consecutive games from March 6-31, 1984. During the streak, the ‘Lopes outscored the opposition 126-47, including seven shutouts. As part of the streak, GCU swept their road series in Hawai’i (4 games at Hawai’i Hilo and 4 games at Hawai’i Pacific), the first time doing so since joining the conference.
WIN/LOSS - BREAKING IT DOWN: The ‘Lopes are 25-9 in day games and 12-8 in night games; 12-5 in 1-run games and 4-1 in 2-run games; they are 23-9 when scoring between 3-9 runs in a game; 31-8 in games in which they score first; and 34-4 when leading after the sixth inning. GCU has scored at least 10 runs 11 times and are a perfect 11-0 in those contests.
THE MENDOZA LINE: Senior third baseman Derek Mendoza has been a steady force GCU at the plate, leading the team in a number of offensive categories: .370 batting average, 64 hits, 40 RBI, 38 runs scored, and a .434 on-base percentage. Off the field, Mendoza was recently tabbed as a Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Daktronics West Region First Team selection, making him eligible for All-America consideration for both awards.
PACWEST STAT SPEAK: Among PacWest teams this season, GCU ranked second in team ERA (3.37) and fourth in batting average (.301). Sporting an impressive .977 fielding percentage, the ‘Lopes lead all conference teams and rank second nationally only to Minnesota State Mankato’s .980 mark. Individually, Derek Mendoza is tied for fourth in triples (3), seventh in batting average (.359), eighth in RBI (47), and 10th in slugging percentage (.431). Steven Swingle leads all conference batters with seven triples and is 10th with 85 total bases. Paul Panaccione is tied for sixth with 12 stolen bases. On the mound, Andrew Naderer is tied for second with eight wins, while Coley Bruns is tied for fourth with seven. Bruns leads the conference with a .195 opponents’ batting average. Jorge Perez has tossed the fifth-most innings (86.0) among conference hurlers, while Naderer leads the squad and ranks fourth with 67 strikeouts. Mark Jarrett has secured a team-high eight saves, third-most in the PacWest.
Click here for more notes.
Click here for the game recap from tonight.
Click here to view the postgame press conference with Andy Stankiewicz, Malcolm Purdy, and Paul Panaccione.
Click here for more information on the West Regional.
Click here to view a video preview with Michael Potter for tomorrow's game.
GAME NOTES
VS. CHICO STATE: GCU is 9-34 all-time against the Wildcats. Prior to yesterday’s 4-1 GCU loss, the teams had not played one another since the 2009 season. Chico State swept a four-game series against the ‘Lopes that season and also won their four games against GCU in 2008.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This year marks the first time since 2002 that GCU will participate in the West Regionals. The ‘Lopes have a storied postseason past, having won four NAIA National Championships in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1986. During their time in NAIA, GCU won 15 District VII titles and 11 Area 2 crowns. As members of the CCAA, GCU won the 1999 regular season championship and competed in the Division II West Regionals in 2000 and 2002. Prior to this season, the ‘Lopes had not won a postseason game since joining Division II in 1999.
PACWEST CHAMPS!: For the first time since joining the PacWest Conference in 2008, GCU earned a share of the conference title with California Baptist as both posted 26-10 marks. The 26 in-conference victories are the most for the ‘Lopes over the past five years.
PACWEST HONOR ROLL: Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz was voted PacWest Coach of the Year, while freshman left-hander Andrew Naderer garnered Freshman of the Year honors. Steven Swingle (catcher), Garrett Jeffries (designated hitter), and Coley Bruns (pitcher) were named First Team All-Conference; Naderer (pitcher) was selected to the Second Team; and Harlyn Griffiths (outfielder) earned Third Team All-Conference accolades.
RACKING UP THE WINS: The 'Lopes have won 37 games this season, their most victories since the 2002 squad won 38 games. That team was also the last to make a trip to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
GOING STREAKING: GCU strung together a 20-game win streak from March 8-April 6, the longest such streak in the program since winning a school-best 27 consecutive games from March 6-31, 1984. During the streak, the ‘Lopes outscored the opposition 126-47, including seven shutouts. As part of the streak, GCU swept their road series in Hawai’i (4 games at Hawai’i Hilo and 4 games at Hawai’i Pacific), the first time doing so since joining the conference.
WIN/LOSS - BREAKING IT DOWN: The ‘Lopes are 25-9 in day games and 12-8 in night games; 12-5 in 1-run games and 4-1 in 2-run games; they are 23-9 when scoring between 3-9 runs in a game; 31-8 in games in which they score first; and 34-4 when leading after the sixth inning. GCU has scored at least 10 runs 11 times and are a perfect 11-0 in those contests.
THE MENDOZA LINE: Senior third baseman Derek Mendoza has been a steady force GCU at the plate, leading the team in a number of offensive categories: .370 batting average, 64 hits, 40 RBI, 38 runs scored, and a .434 on-base percentage. Off the field, Mendoza was recently tabbed as a Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Daktronics West Region First Team selection, making him eligible for All-America consideration for both awards.
PACWEST STAT SPEAK: Among PacWest teams this season, GCU ranked second in team ERA (3.37) and fourth in batting average (.301). Sporting an impressive .977 fielding percentage, the ‘Lopes lead all conference teams and rank second nationally only to Minnesota State Mankato’s .980 mark. Individually, Derek Mendoza is tied for fourth in triples (3), seventh in batting average (.359), eighth in RBI (47), and 10th in slugging percentage (.431). Steven Swingle leads all conference batters with seven triples and is 10th with 85 total bases. Paul Panaccione is tied for sixth with 12 stolen bases. On the mound, Andrew Naderer is tied for second with eight wins, while Coley Bruns is tied for fourth with seven. Bruns leads the conference with a .195 opponents’ batting average. Jorge Perez has tossed the fifth-most innings (86.0) among conference hurlers, while Naderer leads the squad and ranks fourth with 67 strikeouts. Mark Jarrett has secured a team-high eight saves, third-most in the PacWest.
Click here for more notes.
β π§π¨ ππ₯π² π³π¨π§π β Max Charles' diving grab
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