GCU heads to CBU for final WAC series


Grand Canyon Lopes (34-12, 17-4 WAC)	at.	California Baptist Lancers (29-24, 11-10 WAC)
		Friday-Saturday, May 6-7 Friday: 4 and 6:30 p.m. (Phoenix time) Saturday: 5 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Game notes		Live video Live stats

Grand Canyon heads to Riverside, California, for its final conference series before heading to the WAC Tournament next week in Huntsville, Texas.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

NCAA TOP 25: GCU comes in seventh in the nation for team batting average and first in the WAC with a .335. They are also 17th in scoring, averaging 6.48 runs per game. With a .519 slugging percentage the Lopes ranked 29th.GCU is ranked seventh the nation in stolen bases (115) and second in stolen bases per game (2.5). Senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti is second in the nation in stolen bases per game (.96) and ranks second with 44 total steals in 46 games. Sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel and junior right fielder Kristin Fifield are tied for 25th in the nation for RBIs with 49. Those two are also tied at 32nd for RBIs per game at 1.07.
WAC RECORD: Nicoletti is two stolen bases away from tying the WAC single-season record for stolen bases.
GCU SINGLE-SEASON RECORD: Fifield and graduate first baseman Denae Chatman each has 13 home runs this season, tying them for the GCU single-season home run record.

SCOUTING

CBU comes into the last weekend of WAC play with a record of 29-24 and 11-10 in conference play. Most recently, the Lancers swept New Mexico State in Las Cruces with 9-6, 10-9, and 5-0 wins over the Aggies. CBU and GCU met in Phoenix on April 1 and 2. The Lopes swept the Lancers in two one-run games and won by three in the other.

The Lancers have won four WAC series, including sweeping NMSU twice. They also took one series from Seattle U and one from Dixie State. CBU was swept by Utah Valley and GCU this season.

As a team, the Lancers are hitting .246 in 53 games with 205 runs and 329 hits, including 60 doubles, nine triples and 11 home runs. They have drawn 111 walks and struck out 257 times. In the circle, the Lancers have a four-person staff with a 2.99 ERA. They have tossed 356 innings with 20 complete games, six shutouts and six saves. Batters are hitting .252 against them with 354 hits, including 57 doubles, 26 home runs and eight triples. As a staff, CBU has fanned 241 batters and walked 141.

In the circle, Alyssa Argomaniz is the Lancers go-to with 137 innings pitched. The sophomore has made 25 starts and 34 appearances. She has a 10-10 record while throwing eight complete games, one shutout and collecting four saves. Argomaniz has struck out 99 batters and walked 80. Jazmine Castaneda has collected the most wins in the circle for the Lancers with a 12-9 record. The sophomore has logged 117.2 innings on the rubber while making 14 starts and appearing in 30 games. She has thrown nine complete games and two shutouts. At the plate, Katelyn Mangrello is the Lancers' top hitter with a .346 average and .515 slugging percentage. She has a team-best 45 hits, 29 RBIs and 14 doubles. Argomaniz is the only Lancer to play in 52 of their 53 games. She is hitting .277 with 33 hits, three doubles, one triple, two home runs and 25 RBIs.

LAST TIME OUT
GCU dropped its first WAC series to Dixie State, losing both games on Friday and redeeming itself with a Senior Day win on Saturday.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lopes head to Huntsville, Texas, for the WAC Tournament being played May 10-14.

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Players Mentioned

Denae Chatman

Katelyn Dunckel

Kristin Fifield

Gianna Nicoletti

Grand Canyon University Athletics