GCU, California Baptist play key WAC series

Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 \| Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	CALIFORNIA BAPTIST LANCERS (29-16, 14-7 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (26-18, 16-5 WAC)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, May 3 • 7 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Lukas Pirko (5-2, 2.56) vs. LHP Grant Richardson (2-0, 3.24)

Saturday, May 4 • 7 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
RHP Brandon Downer (5-3, 3.34) vs. RHP Isaac Lyon (4-1, 3.44)

Sunday, May 5 • 12 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+
TBA vs. RHP Connor Mattison (5-3, 5.33)

Grand Canyon opens a seven-game homestand that will conclude the home schedule. The Lopes host an important conference series, welcoming in a California Baptist team that sits two games back of GCU's spot atop the WAC standings.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

WAC RACE: As has been the case with most recent GCU and California Baptist meetings, the series will play a key part in shaping the top of the WAC standings. The Lopes hold a two-game lead on the Lancers, who are tied with Abilene Christian for second place. While no clinching scenarios are in play for GCU this weekend, the Lopes could position themselves extremely well with a series win.
THOSE HOT BATS: While the Lopes have been a solid offensive team for much of the season, GCU's bats have posted video-game numbers in the past two games. For the first time since 1986, the Lopes are coming off back-to-back games of 20 or more runs in wins at Seattle U and No. 21 Arizona. GCU scored 24 runs on the Wildcats on Tuesday in a seven-inning contest. It was the most runs allowed by the Wildcats since 2000.
1-2 SOPHOMORE PUNCH: Sophomore hurlers Grant Richardson and Isaac Lyon have stepped into the Nos. 1 and 2 positions in GCU's weekend rotation quite nicely the last two weekends. Richardson's efforts on Friday at Seattle U earned him WAC Pitcher of the Week honors after holding the Redhawks to one hit over six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Richardson had not started a game in his college career before an April 9 win against Arizona State. He is riding a 12-inning scoreless streak dating back to that matchup with the Sun Devils.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST

California Baptist is coming off an uncharacteristic 2023 season that saw the Lancers go .500 in WAC play and under .500 on the season. CBU has bounced back this season with a conference-high 29 wins.

The Lancers have gone 5-2 in conference series this season and hold a 14-7 record that is tied for second with Abilene Christian. CBU dropped home series against UT Arlington and last weekend against Utah Valley.

Pitching is the name of the game for 21st-year head coach Gary Adcock. His squad holds a conference-leading 4.22 ERA that ranks 17th nationally. CBU's Friday and Saturday starting pitchers both hold ERAs under 3.50. On the other side of the ball, CBU holds a middling team batting average (.282, 133rd nationally), but a mark of 75 home runs leads to a top-50 slugging percentage of .499.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The homestand rolls on with a midweek game against Washington on Tuesday with an updated start time of 1 p.m.

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

Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 | Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz.

vs.

PITCHING PROBABLES

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Isaac Lyon

Connor Mattison

Grant Richardson

Grand Canyon University Athletics