WAC play resumes with Utah Tech visit

Friday, April 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

6:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

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4/20/2023 9:00:00 AM | Baseball

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2nd-place Lopes look to continue build towards conference tournament

By: Josh Hauser

Friday-Sunday, April 21-23 \| Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS (9-27, 4-11 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (20-17, 11-7 WAC)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, April 21 • 6:30 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Brett Porthan (4-3, 5.91) vs. RHP Daniel Avitia (5-1, 3.73)

Saturday, April 22 • 6:30 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
LHP Carsten Herman (2-4, 7.29) vs. RHP Carter Young (0-2, 8.87)

Sunday, April 23 • 12 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Carson Angeroth (2-1, 4.44) vs. LHP Zach Thornton (5-1, 2.83)

Grand Canyon looks to continue its momentum of last weekend's series victory at Abilene Christian when the Lopes welcome in Utah Tech for a three-game set starting on Friday night.

All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

STANDINGS UPDATE: Entering the weekend, GCU sits in second place in the 13-team WAC. The Lopes (11-7) are three games back of Sam Houston (14-4) and a half game ahead of Abilene Christian and UT Arlington (9-6). GCU's remaining conference series come against Utah Tech (12th), Tarleton (13th), UT Rio Grande Valley (7th) and California Baptist (t-5th).
WAC STATS: For conference games, the Lopes lead the WAC in a number of categories. GCU has the conference's top on-base percentage (.414) and has scored 15 more runs (160) than any other club. On the mound, the Lopes have struck out more opposing WAC batters (167) than any other school.
RECORD AND MILESTONE WATCH: GCU players could hit a number of milestones with strong offensive weekends: junior shortstop Jacob Wilson needs three hits to hit the 200-hit mark for his career; Wilson needs 10 more RBIs (currently: 133) to break GCU's D-I career RBI record; Wilson needs 21 hits (currently: 197) to break GCU's D-I career hits record; graduate second baseman Zack Gregory needs 10 walks to break GCU's D-I record for a season; freshman designated hitter Zach Yorke needs nine RBIs (currently: 45) to break GCU's D-I freshman record; Yorke needs three home runs to break GCU's D-I freshman home run record.

SCOUTING

Although a transitioning school making the move from Division II to Division I, Utah Tech had a solid showing in WAC play at 14-16 last year. However, the Trailblazers have not been able to replicate that success into 2023, checking in at 4-11 in WAC play thus far.

The Trailblazers are last in the WAC in batting average (.256), earned run average (7.86) and fielding percentage (.949).

Utah Tech opened WAC play with a series victory over New Mexico State. While dropping its other four conference series, Utah Tech has picked up single wins over Sam Houston and California Baptist.