Matinee baseball brings K-State to GCU Ballpark

Tuesday, April 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Kansas State

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Phoenix, AZ : April 7, 2026: The Lopes fall 8-12 against ASU at GCU Ballpark. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

4/20/2026 6:02:00 PM | Baseball

Wildcats visit Lopes after each team won weekend series

By: Tyler Yarbrough

PROBABLE PITCHERS
Tuesday at 1 p.m.	RHP Austin Haley (2-0, 2.79)	RHP Billy Gregory (1-0, 9.00)

Grand Canyon carries the momentum of a stunning Sunday comeback win into a marquee nonconference matchup, when the Lopes host Big 12 foe Kansas State to continue their 10-game homestand. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

The game will stream on Mountain West Network and televised on Arizona's Family Sports.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

HISTORIC COMEBACK: GCU authored one of the most remarkable rallies in program history on Sunday, erasing an 8-0 deficit against Air Force to win 16-12. The Lopes launched five home runs in the comeback, tying for seventh place in the Mountain West standings. The Lopes are now a half-game behind sixth-place San José State with nine conference games remaining, meaning earning one of the MW's six postseason berths is still firmly in sight.

LOPES POWER UP: GCU has become one of the better home run-hitting teams in the Mountain West over the past month. Junior designated hitter Trevor Schmidt (six) and freshman third baseman Jose Lopez III (four) have led the way with their slugging in conference play, combining for 10 home runs against Mountain West opponents. Sunday's five-homer outburst was the latest of five mutli-home run conference games for the Lopes, a stretch of multi-homer performances.

SCHMDIT'S SURGE: Schmidt has emerged as one of GCU's most dangerous bats in the middle of the lineup, earning the latest Mountain West Player of the Week honor. The Fullerton College transfer has provided consistent power since breaking into the starting lineup on March 14, homering in multiple key spots like his game-tying blast Sunday in a comeback win against Air Force. Schmidt's middle-of-the-order presence gives the Lopes a lefthanded bat to face Kansas State's right-handed pitching.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE

Kansas State enters at 25-15 overall and 9-9 in Big 12 play, coming off winning two of three weekend games at Arizona. K-State is one of the most dangerous offensive clubs in the country, led by shortstop Dee Kennedy, who ranks among Division I's top 10 in multiple offensive categories, including leading the nation in runs and ranking third in RBI with 58.

Carlos Vasquez (.367) and Nick English (.412) give the Wildcats one of the deepest lineups in the Big 12.

On the mound, right-hander Austin Haley gets the nod for the Wildcats on Tuesday after allowing two earned runs in a five-inning home start against Omaha last week. Left-hander Lincoln Sheffield (6-1, 5.07 ERA) and right-hander James Guyette (5-1, 5.10 ERA) anchor the weekend rotation and have combined to give K-State one of the more reliable starting staffs in the Big 12. Under eighth-year head coach Pete Hughes, K-State is coming off a 32-26 season in 2025 with a program-record 17 conference wins to earn a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Following Tuesday's game, GCU closes the homestand with BYU on April 27 and Arizona on April 28 before heading to San Jose for a May 1-3 Mountain West series.

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