THE STRETCH DRIVE: Seattle University heads into the final three weeks of the regular season with 11 scheduled games remaining. The Redhawks welcome WAC newcomer Grand Canyon to Bannerwood Park for a key three-game conference series over the weekend. Although Grand Canyon is not eligible for the WAC Tournament, these games against the Antelopes are important for the Redhawks as they look for their berth into the conference tourney.
#3: On February 21, 2014, Seattle University Athletic Hall of Famer Ed O’Brien died at the age of 83. O’Brien played baseball for Seattle U from 1950 to 1952, hitting .431 with nine home runs during the 1952 season. After the Seattle U basketball team was eliminated from the 1953 NCAA Tournament, he immediately headed to spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates, for whom he played from 1953 to 1958. He returned to the school full-time in 1958 as athletics director, a position he fulfilled until 1980. He also served as head baseball coach for a total of 14 years, compiling a record of 276-135 (.672). The Seattle U baseball team has identified Saturday, May 3, as Ed O’Brien Day at Bannerwood Park. All tickets will cost $3, and the first 100 fans will receive a replica of the baseball card that featured Ed and his brother Johnny when they started their professional careers. Hot dogs at the concession stand will also cost $3 on Saturday.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON: The Antelopes enter the weekend series with a 23-18 overall record, including a 12-6 record within the Western Athletic Conference, good enough for second place in the league standings. Grand Canyon just took two of three games over New Mexico State over the weekend. As a team, the Antelopes have combined for a .274 batting average, a .970 fielding percentage, and a 3.43 earned run average. David Walker leads the team with a .361 batting average, 56 hits, 41 runs scored. 28 walks, and 16 stolen bases. Chad De La Guerra also has 56 hits to go along with a .346 batting average, 32 runs scored, 11 doubles, four triples, two home runs, and 27 runs batted in. On the mound, Coley Bruns is 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 68 innings of work. Out of the bullpen, Malcolm Purdy has made 16 relief appearances, going 4-3 with a 1.91 ERA and two saves.