Upcoming Event: Baseball versus MLB Desert Invitational on February 13, 2026
Baseball
vs MLB Desert Invitational
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Wednesday, February 22
Scottsdale, Ariz.<br /><div class='schedule_game_facility'><a href='http://saltriverfields.com/'>Salt River Fields</a></div>
1:10 p.m.
Grand Canyon
at
Arizona Diamondbacks (Exhib.)
Lopes set for major league experience vs. Diamondbacks
2/21/2017 6:49:00 PM | Baseball
Coming off of a momentous series victory against nationally-ranked Oklahoma State, the Grand Canyon baseball team will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in an exhibition to unofficially kick off Major League Baseball's Spring Training schedule. As a part of the D-backs Collegiate Baseball Series, the Lopes follow Arizona State (2015) and Arizona (2016) in squaring off against the D-backs spring training squad at Salt River Fields. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Michael Potter will call all the action on KFYI 2 1230 AM.
The Lopes will face left-hander Anthony Banda, a 2012 10th Round draft pick who split the 2016 season at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Arizona organization. Banda is ranked as the D-backs' No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Grand Canyon will start freshman left-hander Tyler Hansen in the exhibition.
Originally announced in November 2014, the D-backs Collegiate Baseball Series is in its third season. Following GCU's matchup with the Diamondbacks in 2017, the rotation will restart with Arizona State in 2018, Arizona in 2019 and the Lopes again in 2020.
"The collegiate series will be a wonderful opportunity to welcome these talented student-athletes at the award-winning Salt River Fields for a unique baseball experience," Diamondbacks President & CEO, Derek Hall, told Arizona Sports at the time of the announcement. "The D-backs already have several great ties to each program and we hope these games will further enhance our relationship with each university."
In the series debut in 2014, the Sun Devils and D-backs took a scoreless tie into the bottom of the fifth inning until the big leaguers recorded the 4-0 victory. Last year, eventual national runner-up Arizona fell to the D-backs 12-5. The Diamondbacks scored the first five runs of the game before the Wildcats tied the score at five. The D-backs scored the final seven runs to win 12-5.
Last year, 20 different position players saw the field for the D-backs, while six pitchers were utilized. This year, the game will serve as a precursor to the D-backs Cactus League opener on Saturday and the first chance for the public to see new manager Torey Lovullo in action.
But beyond the actual balls and strikes of the day, it's more about the experience for the Lopes and the dress rehearsal for the D-backs. Head coach Andy Stankiewicz, a Diamondbacks alumnus himself, is looking forward to the organization rolling out the red carpet for his club and allowing them to live a day in the MLB Spring Training life.
GCU will have a chance to meet some of the big leaguers, take batting practice in the main stadium at Salt River Fields, and then, of course, lace up against the Diamondbacks themselves. Grand Canyon's roster features 20 Arizona natives, many of whom grew up watching the D-backs on television and attending games at Chase Field.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. MST and will be available on KFYI 2 1230 AM.
The Lopes will face left-hander Anthony Banda, a 2012 10th Round draft pick who split the 2016 season at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Arizona organization. Banda is ranked as the D-backs' No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Grand Canyon will start freshman left-hander Tyler Hansen in the exhibition.
Originally announced in November 2014, the D-backs Collegiate Baseball Series is in its third season. Following GCU's matchup with the Diamondbacks in 2017, the rotation will restart with Arizona State in 2018, Arizona in 2019 and the Lopes again in 2020.
"The collegiate series will be a wonderful opportunity to welcome these talented student-athletes at the award-winning Salt River Fields for a unique baseball experience," Diamondbacks President & CEO, Derek Hall, told Arizona Sports at the time of the announcement. "The D-backs already have several great ties to each program and we hope these games will further enhance our relationship with each university."
In the series debut in 2014, the Sun Devils and D-backs took a scoreless tie into the bottom of the fifth inning until the big leaguers recorded the 4-0 victory. Last year, eventual national runner-up Arizona fell to the D-backs 12-5. The Diamondbacks scored the first five runs of the game before the Wildcats tied the score at five. The D-backs scored the final seven runs to win 12-5.
Last year, 20 different position players saw the field for the D-backs, while six pitchers were utilized. This year, the game will serve as a precursor to the D-backs Cactus League opener on Saturday and the first chance for the public to see new manager Torey Lovullo in action.
But beyond the actual balls and strikes of the day, it's more about the experience for the Lopes and the dress rehearsal for the D-backs. Head coach Andy Stankiewicz, a Diamondbacks alumnus himself, is looking forward to the organization rolling out the red carpet for his club and allowing them to live a day in the MLB Spring Training life.
GCU will have a chance to meet some of the big leaguers, take batting practice in the main stadium at Salt River Fields, and then, of course, lace up against the Diamondbacks themselves. Grand Canyon's roster features 20 Arizona natives, many of whom grew up watching the D-backs on television and attending games at Chase Field.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. MST and will be available on KFYI 2 1230 AM.
Players Mentioned
LHP
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