GCU welcomes Nebraska for 4-game set

Thursday, February 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Nebraska

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2/21/2024 6:18:00 PM | Baseball

GCU Notes Nebraska Notes

Lopes played 4 different opponents in 1st 4 games, now face Huskers for 4 games

By: Josh Hauser

Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 22-24 \| Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	NEBRASKA HUSKERS (1-2)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (4-0)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Thursday, Feb. 22 • 6 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Drew Christo (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Daniel Avitia (1-0, 1.50)

Friday, Feb. 23 • 6 p.m.
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RHP Brett Sears (0-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. RHP Carter Young (1-0, 1.80)

Saturday, Feb. 24 • 6 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
LHP Will Walsh (0-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. RHP Connor Mattison (0-0, 3.00)

Sunday, Feb. 25 • 12 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
LHP Caleb Clark (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Watkins (0-0, 6.00)

Grand Canyon faced four different opponents during its 4-0 start to the new season. The schedule normalizes this week, with the next four games coming against the Nebraska Huskers at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

All four games will be available on ESPN+.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

THE PITCHING: GCU's pitching has been impressive to begin the 2024 season. The Lopes emerge from the first four games allowing only eight runs and 21 hits. GCU ranks 17th nationally with a 2.00 ERA, 18th with a 0.97 WHIP and 21st at 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. It's been a team effort as well. No GCU pitcher has appeared more than once in the season's first week and six pitchers made their GCU debut.
THE DEFENSE: While the Lopes' pitching staff has missed a lot of bats early with 12.5 strikeouts per game, when hitters do make contact, the defense has been more than reliable. GCU has yet to commit an error this season, a defensive start that hasn't been seen at GCU since at least 1990.
THE BATS: GCU was limited to five hits on opening night (in a win) but has averaged over 12 hits per game since. The Lopes are hitting .316 as a team and slugging .496. Senior right fielder Eddy Pelc has the high mark in batting average at .438 with hits in each of his first four games at GCU. The Lopes' offense was certainly clicking in Tuesday's win against Ohio State with Pelc and senior center fielder Cade Verdusco each logging four hits to lead an 18-hit Lopes effort.

SCOUTING

Nebraska comes in at 1-2 after beginning the season with three games against Big 12 opponents in the Shriners Children's College Showdown played at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Huskers opened the season by defeating Baylor 4-1 before falling to Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

The Huskers are coming off a 33-23-1 campaign in 2023 and a No. 99 RPI rank. After a 15-9 conference schedule, Nebraska entered the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 4 seed, splitting its four games to miss out on NCAA tournament participation.

Nebraska qualified for five NCAA tournaments in a seven-tournament span from 2014 to 2021 but missed out on returning to the field the last two season. Huskers alum Will Bolt is in his fifth season leading the program after assistant coaching stops at Nebraska and Texas A&M.

WHAT'S NEXT?

After a busy start to the season, the Lopes get a reprieve with no midweek action before heading to San Antonio for a three-game series at UTSA starting on Friday.

For more GCU baseball news, notes and numbers, click here to view game notes.