May's stretch run commences with Sac State series

Friday, May 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Sacramento State

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Photo by: Sebastian Molinar

5/1/2025 9:45:00 PM | Baseball

GCU Notes SAC Notes

GCU, Sac State, Utah Valley separated by half game entering final 3 weekends

By: Josh Hauser

Friday, May 2 - Sunday, May 4 \| Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (26-19, 10-5 WAC)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (26-18, 12-6 WAC)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, May 2 • 7 p.m.
Live Stats • Watch on ESPN+ • Tickets
RHP Evan Gibbons (7-1, 3.56) vs. RHP Isaac Lyon (3-3, 3.79)

Saturday, May 3 • 7 p.m.
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RHP Ethan Lay (4-2, 3.09) vs. RHP Garrett Ahern (6-2, 4.15)

Sunday, May 4 • 12 p.m.
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RHP Carson Latimer (2-1, 6.39) vs. RHP Connor Mattison (2-0, 4.30)

The stretch run of the regular season is underway as the calendar flips to May with three regular-season weekends remaining. GCU hosts Sacramento State, both teams fighting for first in the WAC, for a three-game set that begins on Friday at 7 p.m.

The three-game series will be streamed on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SENIOR SUNDAY: Grand Canyon will honor seven seniors in its final weekend home game of the season on Sunday. The Lopes will honor: outfielders Eddy Pelc, Michael Diaz and Maxwell Andeel; infielder Eli Paton; and pitchers Barrett Skaugrud, Walter Quinn and Gray Bailey.

MATTISON IN THE ROTATION: Sophomore righty Connor Mattison is Sunday's scheduled starter, set to make his first appearance on the mound since April 11. Notably, Mattison tossed a no-hitter against Sacramento State in last year's March 29 meeting.

ERROR-FREE BASEBALL: GCU has played six consecutive games without committing an error. Should the Lopes extend that streak to seven games, it would be the longest since 2015. If the streak extends to eight games, it would be the longest since at least 1993.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE

Sacramento State has bounced back from a losing record in 2024 to enter May with a 26-19 overall record and a 10-5 mark in WAC play. The Hornets have posted a 7-1-3 record in weekend series, including four straight series wins and sweeps of UC Riverside and South Dakota State. Fueled by strong starts to series (10-1 in openers), Sacramento State has one of the WAC's top pitching staffs and features the top ERA at 4.62.

With 10 games remaining, the Hornets are eyeing their 12th 30-win season in 14 full years under head coach Reggie Christiansen, building momentum toward the WAC Tournament in late May.