GCU Ballpark visitors feature 2023 NCAA tourney teams Oregon, Washington, Arizona
(Phoenix, AZ) Second-year Grand Canyon head coach Gregg Wallis announced the Lopes 2024 schedule, which is highlighted by high-profile tournament participation, visits from 2023 postseason teams, a strong nonconference slate and a 10-weekend WAC schedule.
“We’ve built the program by challenging our players against top competition, and the 2024 schedule is no exception,” Wallis said. “It’s tough, diverse and exciting. We’ll find out a lot about our club going into WAC play, and that’s exactly the intent.”
TOP-100 RPI
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| Opponent | 2023 RPI | Location(s) | |
 Oregon |
30 | Home | |
 Washington |
38 | Home | |
 Arizona State |
52 | Both | |
 Arizona |
54 | Both | |
 UTSA |
75 | Away | |
 Ohio State |
79 | Home | |
 Washington State |
94 | Home | |
 Nebraska |
99 | Home | |
Of GCU’s 10 nonconference opponents, eight had winning records and finished in the top 100 of the RPI rankings last season. Three made trips to the NCAA tournament, including Oregon’s run to the super regionals.
To open the season, the Lopes will renew participation in the Phoenix-based MLB Desert Invitational for the second straight season. The tournament’s schedule is expected to include a home game in addition to games at spring training sites. The dates and opponents of the MLB Desert Invitational games have not been announced.
“It’s a privilege to return to the MLB Desert Invitational, which will feature great programs from every region in the country,” Wallis said. “Having an opportunity to partner with MLB Network is significant and provides great exposure for our program, facilities and university. It won’t be an easy tournament, but we welcome the challenge and appreciate the growing partnership we’re building with the event.”
Other nonconference weekends include a four-game home series against Nebraska, a three-game set at UTSA and a four-game series at Saint Mary’s. The Huskers were 33-23-1 and finished No. 99 in the RPI. UTSA went 38-19 and was No. 75 in the RPI.
MIDWEEK SNAPSHOT |
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| Home Opponents | Away Opponents | |
| Ohio State |
Arizona State |
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| Oregon |
Arizona |
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| Arizona State |
 BYU |
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| Arizona |
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| Washington |
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| Washington State |
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Midweek play includes home games against Ohio State, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, Washington State and Washington. The Lopes will play road midweek games at Arizona, Arizona State and BYU.
Oregon, Arizona and Washington made the NCAA tournament field last season, while Ohio State and Washington State also posted winning records. Newly minted Big 12 foe BYU offers a convenient midweek matchup heading into the Lopes’ final regular-season weekend in Orem, Utah.
“I firmly believe you only grow when you’re tested and challenged,” Wallis said. “We know it won’t be easy navigating this nonconference schedule, but I feel I’ve got a clubhouse of competitors that wouldn’t have it any other way. Let’s line up against top competition and see where we stack up. What we’re doing well or where we need to improve. Iron sharpens iron.”
The theme of in-state competition continues with midweek games against Arizona’s other Division I programs, Arizona and Arizona State. The Lopes and Wildcats will meet three times and continue alternating which program hosts two games when GCU heads to Tucson twice this season. The Lopes and Sun Devils will each host once in games separated by only one week.
“We’re fortunate to continue the in-state midweeks with Arizona State and Arizona,” Wallis said. “Our players and students look forward to it. It’s an incredible opportunity for us to showcase our program to the state and baseball community in general.”
CONFERENCE SNAPSHOT |
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| Home Opponents | Away Opponents | |
 Tarleton State |
 Stephen F. Austin |
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 Sacramento State |
 UT Rio Grande Valley |
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 Utah Tech |
 UT Arlington |
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 California Baptist |
 Seattle U |
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 Abilene Christian |
 Utah Valley |
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GCU has won three consecutive WAC regular-season titles and will look to begin the chase for its fourth when conference action begins on the road at Stephen F. Austin in early March. The Lopes and Lumberjacks will meet for the first time ever despite sharing WAC membership for a third season.
The Lopes will host WAC series at GCU Ballpark against Tarleton State, Sacramento State, Utah Tech, California Baptist and Abilene Christian. GCU will host Tarleton State and Abilene Christian for the first time ever, while hosting California Baptist and Utah Tech for the second straight season. The Lopes clinched the WAC title by sweeping California Baptist on the regular season’s final weekend last season.
In addition to the first WAC series at Stephen F. Austin, the Lopes will make trips to UT Rio Grande Valley, UT Arlington, Seattle U and Utah Valley. On opposite ends of the spectrum, GCU will visit Utah Valley for the fifth consecutive conference season while returning to Seattle U for the first time since 2018. The Lopes will return to UTRGV for the second straight season and visit UT Arlington for the first time ever.
“Don’t sleep on WAC baseball,” Wallis said. “The conference is good and keeps improving. The expansion into Texas has really helped build our brand and strengthen our league. The traditional WAC programs that remain in the conference are formidable. There are no easy weekends and we know we have to be ready to play our best during our conference season and tournament.”
The WAC Tournament will return to Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium from May 21-25 but will feature a new format designed to protect the WAC’s strongest resumes.
Eight of the conference’s 11 teams will qualify for the tournament. The bottom four seeds will compete in a single-elimination play-in round for the right to advance into a six-team, double-elimination tournament. The two play-in winners will play the No. 3 and No. 4 seed, while the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds get an additional bye. The tournament’s top two seeds can win a tournament championship with three consecutive victories.
“The tournament is a special week,” Wallis said. “Everyone brings their best, and that’s what tournaments are supposed to be about. Best on best battling it out for a weekend to see who is champion. It’s exciting. I think the new format rewards teams fairly for how they perform during the 27-game regular season. But conference tournaments in a sport like baseball are unpredictable. Chaos is inevitable, and sometimes advantages on paper are just that. You just have to show up and be ready to play.”
College baseball’s opening day is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 16. To view GCU’s schedule, click here.
For all-time series history on all of the Lopes’ 2024 opponents, click here.
Press Release courtesy of Antelope Athletics – Josh Hauser
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