Completed Event: Baseball versus San Diego State on March 27, 2026 , Win , 9, to, 3
Baseball
vs San Diego State
W 9-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, April 3
Bob Bennett Stadium • Fresno, Calif.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
10-21, 10-21
3
at
0
Fresno State
9-18-1, 1-6-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Grand Canyon
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
0
Fresno State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Photo by: Josh Hauser
Frey spins complete game shutout to even series
4/3/2026 9:58:00 PM | Baseball
GCU backs best pitching performance of season with 3 early runs in victory
FRESNO, Calif. — Grand Canyon got one of the finest pitching performances in recent memory on Friday night, as Chase Frey fired a nine-inning complete-game shutout to lead GCU past Fresno State 3-0 at Pete Beiden Field and even the series. It marked the program's first nine-inning complete-game shutout since Connor Mattison's no-hitter on March 29, 2024 and just the second in the last dozen seasons.
Frey was in command from the opening pitch, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out eight across 95 pitches. The junior left-hander retired seven of Fresno State's nine leadoff batters and repeatedly kept innings from building, delivering the type of start that changed the tone of the weekend.
"I felt really good," Frey said. "I came out here, I trusted my stuff, I executed. I had faith in what (interim head coach Nathan Bannister) was calling. I had faith in my guys on my defense. I just tried to get ahead, get some early contact."
The early support arrived immediately. On GCU's first scoring chance, graduate catcher Mito Perez ripped a ground-rule double in the first before junior designated hitter Trevor Schmidt lined an RBI single to right-center for a 1-0 lead.
The Lopes added two more in the second when junior shorstop Camden Bates worked a walk, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri's RBI single before Perez followed with another RBI knock to make it 3-0.
That cushion allowed Frey to attack. Bannister emphasized how important the quick offense was in allowing the lefty to stay on the offensive from the mound.
"We talked about execution and, as a pitching staff, our job is to give us a chance to win," Bannister said. "Our offense went out and put runs on the board early, and he pitched with the lead."
Fresno State's best opportunity came in the sixth, when its leadoff hitter doubled to left-center and moved to third with one out. Frey responded with the defining sequence of the night, punching out the Bulldogs' No. 3 and 4 hitters in succession to strand the runner 90 feet away and preserve the shutout.
"That was awesome," Bannister said. "They got a runner to third with less than two outs, and then I think he went strikeout-strikeout. We want them to pitch like they're on offense. So when they get three outs and put up zeros like that, I think it fires up the whole team."
The outing was unlike anything Frey had experienced in his college career.
"No, that was surreal," Frey said. "I don't really think I've gone over seven (innings) in college, maybe seven only a couple times. That was something really special."
The win carried significance for a GCU club looking to notch its first Mountain West series win.
"We've been struggling so far in Mountain West play, but I don't think it's really a skill thing," Frey said. "We just need some momentum and hopefully now this is getting us in the right direction."
With the series now even, the Lopes have a chance Saturday to secure a road series win and continue building momentum.
"It's huge," Bannister said. "Now it's a chance to go win a series and really assert our presence tomorrow by winning the first pitch."
The Lopes and Bulldogs conclude the series on Saturday at noon.
Frey was in command from the opening pitch, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out eight across 95 pitches. The junior left-hander retired seven of Fresno State's nine leadoff batters and repeatedly kept innings from building, delivering the type of start that changed the tone of the weekend.
"I felt really good," Frey said. "I came out here, I trusted my stuff, I executed. I had faith in what (interim head coach Nathan Bannister) was calling. I had faith in my guys on my defense. I just tried to get ahead, get some early contact."
The early support arrived immediately. On GCU's first scoring chance, graduate catcher Mito Perez ripped a ground-rule double in the first before junior designated hitter Trevor Schmidt lined an RBI single to right-center for a 1-0 lead.
The Lopes added two more in the second when junior shorstop Camden Bates worked a walk, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on junior right fielder Billy Scaldeferri's RBI single before Perez followed with another RBI knock to make it 3-0.
That cushion allowed Frey to attack. Bannister emphasized how important the quick offense was in allowing the lefty to stay on the offensive from the mound.
"We talked about execution and, as a pitching staff, our job is to give us a chance to win," Bannister said. "Our offense went out and put runs on the board early, and he pitched with the lead."
Fresno State's best opportunity came in the sixth, when its leadoff hitter doubled to left-center and moved to third with one out. Frey responded with the defining sequence of the night, punching out the Bulldogs' No. 3 and 4 hitters in succession to strand the runner 90 feet away and preserve the shutout.
"That was awesome," Bannister said. "They got a runner to third with less than two outs, and then I think he went strikeout-strikeout. We want them to pitch like they're on offense. So when they get three outs and put up zeros like that, I think it fires up the whole team."
The outing was unlike anything Frey had experienced in his college career.
"No, that was surreal," Frey said. "I don't really think I've gone over seven (innings) in college, maybe seven only a couple times. That was something really special."
The win carried significance for a GCU club looking to notch its first Mountain West series win.
"We've been struggling so far in Mountain West play, but I don't think it's really a skill thing," Frey said. "We just need some momentum and hopefully now this is getting us in the right direction."
With the series now even, the Lopes have a chance Saturday to secure a road series win and continue building momentum.
"It's huge," Bannister said. "Now it's a chance to go win a series and really assert our presence tomorrow by winning the first pitch."
The Lopes and Bulldogs conclude the series on Saturday at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Frey, Chase (1-5)
L: Townson, Drew (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Perez, Mito 1
RBI: Perez, Mito 1 ; Schmidt, Trevor 1 ; Scaldeferri, Billy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perez, Mito 1 ; Cameron, Griffin 1 ; Bates, Camden 1
SB: Peery, Cannon 1 ; Bates, Camden 1
HBP: Peery, Cannon 1
Batting:
2B: Faust, Owen 1
Base Running:
HBP: Schneider, Cam 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball1B/OF
/ BaseballFired up! Frey celebrates complete game shutout #collegebaseball
Saturday, April 04
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TWO grand slams. ONE game. #collegebaseball
Tuesday, March 31
GCU Baseball vs. San Diego State (Game 2) - Cameron, Sanko grand slams
Sunday, March 29