GCU resumes WAC play in Arlington

Friday, April 12

Arlington, Texas

4 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

UT Arlington

4/11/2024 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

GCU Notes

League-leading Lopes have won 9 consecutive WAC series; resume conference play after off weekend

By: Josh Hauser

Friday-Sunday, April 12-14 \| Clay Gould Ballpark \| Arlington, Texas

	UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS (14-19, 9-6 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (17-15, 9-3 WAC)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, April 12 • 4 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Zach Norris (4-3, 5.68) vs. RHP Carter Young (3-2, 4.50)

Saturday, April 13 • 12 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Caylon Dygert (3-2, 2.83) vs. RHP Connor Mattison (4-2, 3.62)

Saturday, April 14 • 10 a.m. (Phoenix time)
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
LHP Caden Noah (3-1, 3.60) vs. RHP Isaac Lyon (3-0, 4.18)

After a weekend off from WAC play, Grand Canyon returns to conference action with a three-game series at UT Arlington beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. (Phoenix time).

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

BURIES IS HITS KING: Lopes senior utility man Elijah Buries is atop the program's career hits list in the Division I era after picking up his 225th career base hit against Arizona State on Tuesday. The native of Upland, California, tied Jacob Wilson's mark of 224 hits in the series finale at Saint Mary's by doubling to left-center. On Tuesday, Buries' first batted ball of the evening came in the first inning and did not leave the infield, but it was well placed down the third-base line where the Sun Devils' third baseman couldn't glove and throw in time to record the out.
STABLE PLAY FROM WILSON: GCU senior left fielder Tyler Wilson has been a model of consistency ever since setting foot on the Lopes' campus. Now compiling his fourth season of .300 or better hitting, Wilson willed GCU to a victory over Arizona State on Tuesday with three hits, three RBIs and a game-tying home run. Wilson ranks second in the WAC with 33 RBIs.
NO ERRORS: After a shaky defensive weekend at Saint Mary's, GCU returned to form with an error-free night on Tuesday against Arizona State. The Lopes have not committed an error in 18 of its 32 games, leading to a top-30 fielding percentage of .978. GCU is 14-4 in games where it does not make an error.

SCOUTING

Despite entering the series five games under .500, UT Arlington is second in the WAC when judged on RPI (128) and strength of schedule (79). In both of those metrics, the Mavericks trail only the Lopes (96 RPI, 70 strength of schedule).

The Mavericks are in the WAC's logjam in the middle of the standings. So far, UT Arlington has won conference series against Utah Tech, Stephen F. Austin and California Baptist while losing series to Abilene Christian and UT Rio Grande Valley.

UT Arlington's pitching statistics are more favorable than those of its offense. The Mavericks rank 89th nationally with a 5.23 ERA and 63rd with a 1.46 WHIP. UT Arlington ranks 250th nationally with a .251 batting average.

Like the Lopes, the Mavericks are under a second-year head coach. The programs lone meeting all-time came in last year's WAC Tournament where UT Arlington narrowly topped GCU 6-5 in Mesa.