Completed Event: Baseball at Stanford on May 9, 2025 , Win , 4, to, 3
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU sweeps WAC weekly awards for 1st time
2/22/2021 10:08:00 AM | Baseball
Zaborowski, Barnes turn in impressive opening-weekend performances
For the first time since joining the WAC, Grand Canyon won both the conference's hitter and pitcher of the week awards. Freshman left fielder Ryland Zaborowski and senior right-handed pitcher Zach Barnes claimed the honors after turning in impressive opening-weekend performances.
GCU took three of four games from Missouri behind 36 runs, the Lopes best four-game start to a season in runs scored since 2016.
Zaborowski began his collegiate career with a nine-hit weekend, driving in five runs, scoring five more and launching his first career home run.
The Gilbert, Arizona, native recorded multiple hits in all four games including three hits on opening day. A 407-foot home run that jumped off the bat on Saturday has racked up over 70,000 views on social media.
"I stayed up each night studying the starter for the next day and obviously it paid off," Zaborowski said. "(Winning the series) really proves a point not to sleep on us."
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Barnes took the ball on opening day and posted an impressive start. Making the move from a primary bullpen role to a starter in the rotation, Barnes posted career highs with six innings pitched and 10 strikeouts.
Barnes limited the Tigers to two hits and no runs in the opening day win.
"I thought today went really well," Barnes said after Friday's win. "We came into the game with a game plan of attacking early and getting the fastball going and to keep going with it. I felt good early in the game with my fastball, my breaking balls weren't quite there, but as I got later into the game the breaking pitches started to come through and it felt really good."
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GCU hosts Oregon State for four games beginning on Thursday night.
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GCU took three of four games from Missouri behind 36 runs, the Lopes best four-game start to a season in runs scored since 2016.
Zaborowski began his collegiate career with a nine-hit weekend, driving in five runs, scoring five more and launching his first career home run.
The Gilbert, Arizona, native recorded multiple hits in all four games including three hits on opening day. A 407-foot home run that jumped off the bat on Saturday has racked up over 70,000 views on social media.
"I stayed up each night studying the starter for the next day and obviously it paid off," Zaborowski said. "(Winning the series) really proves a point not to sleep on us."
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That folks, is a no doubter!#NCAABaseball x 🎥 @GCU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/b6qX5RYcqb
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) February 21, 2021
Barnes took the ball on opening day and posted an impressive start. Making the move from a primary bullpen role to a starter in the rotation, Barnes posted career highs with six innings pitched and 10 strikeouts.
Barnes limited the Tigers to two hits and no runs in the opening day win.
"I thought today went really well," Barnes said after Friday's win. "We came into the game with a game plan of attacking early and getting the fastball going and to keep going with it. I felt good early in the game with my fastball, my breaking balls weren't quite there, but as I got later into the game the breaking pitches started to come through and it felt really good."
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Before we get rolling today, a quick look at @ZachBarnes_7's career-high 10 Ks from the opener. 🔥🔥 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/tncnduCCeG
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 20, 2021
GCU hosts Oregon State for four games beginning on Thursday night.
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Players Mentioned
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