Completed Event: Baseball versus Rice on March 13, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 16
Baseball
vs Rice
L 5-16
Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Jersey Number 29
Elijah Buries
- Position:
- UTIL
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 190
- Class:
- Senior
- B/T:
- R/R
- Hometown:
- Upland, Calif.
- HS:
- Orange Lutheran
- Major:
- B.S. in Sports Management
- Opendorse NIL:
- View profile
| Read | Buries rises to top hitter, lifts mom's spirts Watch | Player card |
 |
Grand Canyon |
Career Summary
- Finished career as GCU's Division I hits (256) and runs scored (159) leader, marks that ranked seventh and 14th, respectively, in the Lopes' all-time record books.
- Became just the 12th GCU player all-time to appear in over 200 games, starting 190 times (eighth-most all-time, second-most at Division I level).
- Saw more D-I at bats (788) than anyone in GCU history and seventh-most all-time.
- One of only 12 GCU batters all-time to record 50 doubles (second-most at D-I level).
- Finished behind only four-year teammate Tyler Wilson for most total bases in GCU's D-I history (Wilson - 376, Buries - 364). That mark ranked 12th all-time at GCU.
- Concluded his GCU career with his third season of .300 hitting (.312) to become the sixth Lope to record three or more seasons of .300 hitting at the D-I level.
- In WAC play, had a slash line of .371 average / .640 slugging / .434 on-base, all marks which individually ranked in the top 13 in the conference.
- Tied for second on the club with 15 doubles, of which 12 game in conference play to rank tied for third in the WAC.
- Had 14 multi-hit games including four three-hit games to finish career with 77 multi-hit games.
- In an April 9 win over Arizona State, overtook future Big Leaguer Jacob Wilson for most career hits in GCU's D-I history with the 225th of his career.
- In a May 17 defeat of Utah Valley, overtook Trevor Blake for most runs scorred in GCU's D-I history with the 155th of his career.
- Homered twice in a May 18 win at Utah Valley in a career-best five-RBI performance.
- Appeared in 48 of GCU's 58 games.
- Hit in every spot in the batting order other than first and eighth. Positionally, played first base, third base and left field.
- Recorded three doubles in a win at Abilene Christian on April 15, tying the most by a Lope since GCU's return to Division I in 2014.
- Hit a walk-off double against Arizona on May 2 in the 12th inning.
- Logged the 200th hit of his career on May 18 vs. California Baptist.
- Was the only GCU player to appear in all 62 games.
- Led GCU in runs scored (50) and at bats (260).
- Ranked third on the Lopes in batting average (.335), walks drawn (22), hits (87) and doubles (13).
- Ranked 51st nationally and fourth in the WAC with 87 hits.
- Hit in the leadoff spot for GCU 22 times.
- Played most of the season at first base (44 starts), but the Lopes went 13-1 with him starting at second base.
- Logged 27 multi-hit games to rank second on the team (Juan Colato, 29).
- Had a career-long hit streak of 17 games from March 8 to April 2. It was the longest streak by a GCU batter since Chad De La Guerra had a 24-game streak in 2015.
- Also had a 21-game reached-base streak from March 1 to April 2. It was the longest streak by a GCU batter since Preston Pavlica had a 30-game streak in 2019.
- Matched his career high with four hits in GCU's blowout win at Arizona on Feb. 22, also scoring four runs.
- Hit a walk-off double to help the Lopes top San Diego on March 11, one of five Lopes' walk-offs on the season.
- Pulled off the rare inside-the-park home run in a win at Dixie State on April 10.
- Hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning of GCU's win at New Mexico State on May 13. The win helped GCU clinch its fourth WAC regular-season title in five seasons. One of three Lopes' grand slams on the season.
- Named a Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game) alongside teammates Jacob Wilson and Carter Young.
- A first-team All-WAC selection as an at-large pick.
- Had the best batting average (.374) by a Lopes freshman in the Division I era and second-best overall.
- Went 5 for 9 (.556) with two runs scored in the Tucson Regional to be named to the All-Tournament team.
- Led GCU with a .374 batting average, the highest mark by a Lopes freshman since Trevor Santor hit .384 in 2010.
- Also led the Lopes in OPS (.986), slugging (.553), on-base (.433) and stolen bases (13).
- Among WAC players, ranked second in average, sixth in slugging, ninth in on-base and tied for fifth in steals.
- Ranked 57th nationally in batting average and 11th among freshmen.
- Had three four-hit games: March 28 at Tulane, May 14 at Tarleton and in GCU's WAC Tournament opener on May 27 against New Mexico State.
- Posted a stretch of five consecutive multi-hit games from May 9 to May 20, the culmination of an 11-game hit streak.
- Scored the go-ahead run in the WAC Tournament championship round against UT Rio Grande Valley on May 29 after hitting a one-out double.
- Hit home runs on back-to-back days (including his first career homer) in a series win at Tulane on March 27 and 28.
- Homered twice in a win at Tarleton on May 14, one of five multi-homer games by a GCU player on the season.
- Delivered first collegiate hit and RBI with a double in his first plate appearance off the bench on Feb. 21 against Missouri.
- Had 10 hits and eight RBIs in series sweep at Tarleton from May 14 to May 16.
- Made just three starts in first 12 games of season but had sustained success to earn everyday role.
Summer Leagues |
- 2021: La Crosse Loggers | Northwoods League | La Crosse, Wisc.
Orange Lutheran HS |
Orange, Calif. |
- Four-year varsity starter.
- Earned All-Trinity League honors as a junior in 2019.
- A team leader that helped Orange Lutheran win three straight USA Baseball National High School Invitationals which he cites as his top sports memory to date.
Personal |
- Parents are Jeff and Jude Buries.
- Father, Jeff, played center field at California Baptist in 1997 for the NAIA third-place team.
- Favorite TV show is The Office.
- Future career goals include playing and/or broadcasting professional baseball.
- Favorite pro team is the Los Angeles Angels.
- Favorite athletes to watch growing up were Mike Trout, Ian Kinsler and Drew Brees.
GCU Baseball at Arizona - 9th-Inning Highlights
Wednesday, March 04
GCU Baseball vs. Pacific - Cannon Peery's fourth homer of season
Saturday, February 28
GCU Baseball vs. Pacific - Tanner Johns' go-ahead double
Saturday, February 28
GCU Baseball vs. Oklahoma State (Game 1) - Highlights
Friday, February 20
