GCU, Air Force set for 3 games

PROBABLE PITCHERS
Friday at 7 p.m.	RHP Gaines Estridge (2-4, 6.46)	RHP JT Guerrero (2-4, 6.31)
Saturday at 7 p.m.	LHP Ethan Dillinger (0-1, 10.62)	LHP Chase Frey (2-5, 4.36)
Sunday at 12 p.m.	TBA	TBA

Grand Canyon looks to build off of the momentum of its recent offensive uptick and the pitching prowess of junior lefty Chase Frey, as the Lopes host a second conseuctive home Mountain West Weekend. GCU and Air Force play a three-game set with first pitch set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sunday's finale at 12 p.m.

All three games will stream on Mountain West Network and televised on Arizona's Family Sports.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SURGING BATS: GCU's offense has taken a clear step forward, jumping from 4.5 runs and 7.8 hits per game with a .249 average over its first 26 games to 7.3 runs and 11.6 hits per game with a .300 average over its last 10. The Lopes have produced 10+ hits in seven of those last 10 contests.

FABULOUS FREY: Junior lefty Chase Frey has been dominant in his last two starts, combining for 17 2/3 innings with just one earned run (0.51 ERA) while striking out 22 hitters. He tossed a complete game shutout at Fresno State before following it with 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball against UNLV.

TURN IT: GCU has turned 32 double plays on the season, a mark that ranks 20th nationally and leads the MW.

SCOUTING AIR FORCE

Air Force enters the series at 17-18 overall but 8-4 in MW play, positioning itself near the top of the conference standings. The Falcons' profile is split sharply by location: they are 11-0 at home and 4-13 on the road. From a statistical standpoint, the offense has been one of the more productive units in the league, ranking top-20 nationally in runs (17th) and scoring (13th) while also sitting top-30 in on-base percentage (.418). That production is countered by a pitching staff with a 7.35 ERA. The Falcons have swept MW series against UNLV and Fresno State, won a series against Nevada, but got swept at San Diego State.

Under head coach Mike Kazlausky, now in his 16th season, Air Force has established a consistent identity built around offensive pressure and home-field advantage, even as overall records have fluctuated. The Falcons went 20-34 overall and 12-18 in conference play last season, finishing in the lower half of the MW before taking a step forward early in 2026 league play. Air Force won the Mountain West regular-season title in 2024 and the conference tournament in 2022, which led to its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The 10-game homestand finishes with three Big 12 matchups against Kansas State, BYU and Arizona.

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

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SCOUTING AIR FORCE

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chase Frey

JT Guerrero

Grand Canyon University Athletics