GCU Classic returns this weekend

Phoenix, Ariz.. • Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark
	vs.
Grand Canyon Lopes (2-5, 0-0 WAC) GAME NOTES		CSUN Matadors (5-3, 0-0 Big West) ~~GAME NOTES~~	Valparaiso Crusaders (2-4, 0-0 MVC) GAME NOTES

GAME 1 • Friday, March 2 • 6 p.m. MST • vs. CSUN
GCU.tv • Live Stats • WAC Digital Network
RHP [JR] Jake Wong (0-0, 1.80) vs. RHP [R-SR] Tei Vanderford (1-0, 6.00)

GAME 2 • Saturday, March 3 • 2 p.m. MST • vs. CSUN
GCU.tv • Live Stats
RHP [R-SR] Mike Lundin (1-1, 5.19) vs. LHP [FR] Wesley Moore (0-1, 4.00)

GAME 3 • Saturday, March 3 • 6 p.m. MST • vs. Valpo
GCU.tv • Live Stats • WAC Digital Network
LHP [SR] Jake Repavich (0-0, 6.00) vs. RHP [R-SR] Trey Ferketic (1-0, 2.00)

GAME 4 • Sunday, March 4 • 3 p.m. MST • vs. Valpo
GCU.tv • Live Stats
RHP [FR] Nick Hull (0-0, 4.50) vs. TBA

Grand Canyon returns home after a weekend in San Diego to host its own tournament, the GCU Classic. After taking a year off in 2017, the GCU Classic returns for the third time in four years. The Lopes will play two games each against CSUN and Valparaiso, including a doubleheader of action on Saturday.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

ABOUT THE CLASSIC: Grand Canyon hosts the GCU Classic for the third time in the last four years. The Lopes will be looking to improve upon a 6-1 record in GCU Classic games. In the inaugural tournament in 2015, the Lopes handled Bradley, North Dakota State and Omaha by a combined score of 44-11. In 2016, GCU beat Central Michigan twice and Saint Mary's while losing to Tennessee.
TOUGH SCHEDULE AGAIN: For the second consecutive season, the Lopes have started off the season with one of the toughest schedules in the nation. After three games with TCU, one with Washington State, and a grueling weekend among the West Coast elite at the Tony Gwynn Classic, the Lopes have a Top-10 strength of schedule. According to Massey Ratings, GCU slides in at No. 9.
COTTON'S HOT START: Sophomore Quin Cotton went 8-for-13 (.615) over the last week. He's hitting a team-best .423 on the year, a mark that ranks seventh in the WAC. Cotton has had multi-hit efforts in four of GCU's seven games this year and has scored a run in six consecutive games.

SCOUTING

CSUN: The Matadors have flashed the power to begin the season, hitting 22 home runs in their first eight games, a mark that leads the nation. CSUN lost three of four to begin the season at home against BYU before putting up big numbers against Manhattan last weekend. CSUN went 12-12 in a tough Big West Conference a year ago, the fourth-place finish was the Matadors' best in 17 years.
VALPARAISO: The GCU Classic will represent games 8-11 of a 23-game season-opening road trip for the Crusaders. Valpo's first home game will come on Tuesday, March 27. The team is considered a "wild card" in its first year of the Missouri Valley Conference after moving over from the Horizon. Valpo is coming off an impressive weekend where it defeated Oklahoma, blew out Holy Cross, and narrowly lost to the Sooners in their second meeting.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU competed in the Tony Gwynn Classic, taking on Cal Poly, San Diego and San Diego State.
The Lopes limited Cal Poly to 3 hits in a 5-1 win. Mike Lundin tossed 6.0 innings of two-hit baseball.
GCU lost a sloppy Saturday nightcap to USD, 8-4.
The Lopes lost a late lead to San Diego State on Sunday, 5-4

WHAT'S NEXT

GCU stays home to host a three-game series against Penn State next weekend.

For more GCU baseball news, notes and numbers, click here to view the series notes and click here to view the media guide.

Phoenix, Ariz.. • Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark

vs.

GAME NOTES

GAME NOTES

GAME NOTES

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

SCOUTING

LAST TIME OUT

WHAT'S NEXT

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Quin Cotton

Nick Hull

Mike Lundin

Jake Repavich

Jake Wong

Grand Canyon University Athletics