March 29 | Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz. |
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#15 ARIZONA
WILDCATS (17-7, 6-3 Pac-12)
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GRAND CANYON
LOPES (16-9, 8-1 WAC)
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PITCHING PROBABLES |
| Tuesday, March 29 • 6 p.m. Live Stats • Watch RHP Chandler Murphy (0-0, 20.25) vs. RHP Carter Young (1-2, 5.87) |
(Phoenix, AZ) Grand Canyon begins a season-long six-game homestand when it welcomes in the No. 15 Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The game will be televised on FOX 10 Xtra (Ch. 45 / Cable 9) and streamed on ESPN+. Barry Buetel will handle the play-by-play duties alongside Arizona Diamondbacks legened Luis Gonzalez as analyst. Kate Longworth joins the crew as a reporter.
It will be Los Lopes Night as GCU celebrates its local Phoenix community. Tickets can be claimed at GCULopes.com/LosLopes. All fans can grab a free hot dog in front of the ballpark, and 400 exclusive State Forty Eight Los Lopes t-shirts will be tossed out during the game.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
- AGAINST THE PAC: Grand Canyon’s midweek schedule has featured a heavy dose of Pac-12 opponents. The Lopes are off to a 3-1 start against schools from the conference, topping then-No. 11 Arizona 19-3 on Feb. 22, splitting a midweek set at then-No. 5 Oregon State, and defeating Arizona State last week. GCU plays two more games against Arizona, one more at home against Arizona State and is set to play Stanford twice in late April.
- THE FORMULA: The computers like the Lopes. GCU is currently ranked No. 20 in the nation in the NCAA’s Ratings Percentage Index tool. The Lopes moved up a few spots in the rankings following a series win on the road against Sacramento State. GCU has played the nation’s ninth-toughest schedule (Massey Ratings), contributing to the high ranking. The Lopes face a week featuring a game against RPI No. 13 Arizona and two more against RPI No. 6 Texas Tech.
- IT’S A STREAK: Sophomore Elijah Buries has hit his stride. He is on a career-best 14-game hit streak and features a .350 batting average. Buries reached base in four games before the streak, thus extending his reached-base streak to 18 games. Senior Juan Colato has matched Buries with an active 18-game reached-base streak.
SCOUTING
Arizona enters the game ranked No. 15 nationally but has lost three of its last four games. The Wildcats dropped a weekend series in Tucson against UCLA and fell to New Mexico on the road in midweek action.
Third-year sophomore Chandler Murphy is expected to start for the Wildcats. He pitched one inning in last week’s midweek contest in Albuquerque. The Peoria, Arizona, native will be making his second appearance against the Lopes, starting at GCU Ballpark last year and surrendering three runs in 1 2/3 innings.
The Wildcats are under first-year head coach Chip Hale who replaced a departed Jay Johnson in the offseason. Following their typical mold, the Wildcats are an offensive club that enter with the country’s No. 25 batting average (.308).
WHAT’S NEXT?
GCU welcomes in New Mexico State for a three-game WAC set beginning on Friday at 6 p.m
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon University Athletics – Josh Hauser
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