THIS WEEKEND’S PROBABLE MATCHUPS
Friday, May 1:Seattle U: #32 LHP Will Dennis (5-3, 2.24 ERA)Grand Canyon: #44 RHP Cody Bruns (6-2, 3.74 ERA) Saturday, May 2:Seattle U: #20 RHP Skyler Genger (4-6, 3.53 ERA)Grand Canyon: #33 LHP Andrew Naderer (3-5, 5.53 ERA) Sunday, May 3:Seattle U: #30 LHP Tarik Skubal (4-4, 3.15 ERA)Grand Canyon: #16 LHP Jake Repavich (7-2, 4.21 ERA)MOVING FORWARD: Seattle University enters May in the middle of a seven-game road swing, as the Redhawks make the first of probably two trips to Arizona, this time facing Grand Canyon University in a three-game series at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix. Seattle U is close to mathematically clinching its spot in the WAC Tournament, to be held at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., May 20-24. The Redhawks look to remain at the top of the WAC standings, and a series victory over the current leaders will accomplish that goal.
THE BAKERSFIELD SERIES: For the second straight weekend, Seattle University lost two of three games in a conference weekend series, this time at Bakersfield. In Friday’s series-opening game, Bakersfield’s Hayden Carter scattered nine hits in throwing a complete game shutout, as Seattle U stranded nine runners on base and committed five errors in the Roadrunners’ 5-0 victory. The next day, the Redhawk bats came alive, but the pitching could not hold down the Bakersfield offense, as the Roadrunners earned a 10-5 victory. Seattle U closed to within one at 6-5 with three runs in the top of the eighth inning, but Bakersfield put four runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth. Colin Peterson led Seattle U with a 3-for-4 performance with a run scored and an RBI. Sunday, Tarik Skubal started for the Redhawks and allowed just two hits and two walks in six innings while tying his season high with eight strikeouts. Grant Gunning and Garrett Anderson followed Skubal to the hill and preserved the shutout in the Redhawks’ 4-0 victory. Grant Newton led the Redhawk offense with a 2-for-3 performance with a walk, while Griffin Andreychuk and Brian Olson both reached base three times with one hit and two walks apiece.
WEATHER FORECAST: Typical desert weather awaits the Redhawks in Phoenix. For the night games, temperatures will dip into the 70s under clear skies with winds picking up a little bit Saturday night. Mainly sunny skies are forecast for Sunday with temperatures moving into the 90s.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: In the NCAA statistical rankings released Wednesday, April 29, Skyler Genger is 21st in the country with 83 total strikeouts. Landon Cray is ninth on the toughest to strikeout list, striking out once every 19.5 plate appearances. As a team, Seattle U is 29th in the country in triples with 15 and 38th in stolen bases with 63.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON: The Antelopes enter the weekend series with a 26-19 overall record after sweeping two games from nationally-ranked Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, 5-4 and 10-5. Grand Canyon has moved to the top of the WAC standings with a 13-4 league mark after winning two of three games at Utah Valley last weekend. The Antelopes have not lost a home conference game so far this season, sweeping North Dakota, Texas-Pan American, and Northern Colorado. As a team, Grand Canyon has combined for a .308 batting average, a .967 fielding percentage, and a 4.74 earned run average. Paul Panaccione enters the weekend leading the team with a .394 batting average, 71 hits, and 47 runs scored. Chad De La Guerra, the preseason WAC Player of the Year, is hitting .318 with seven doubles, nine home runs, and 42 runs batted in. Garrison Schwartz and Brandon Smith are tied for the team lead with three triples, with Schwartz leading the way with 10 doubles, Smith earning a team-high 10 stolen bases, and David Walker drawing 31 walks to lead the Antelopes. Out of the bullpen, Travis Garcia-Perreira leads the team with 21 appearances, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.78 earned run average and one save as he has struck out 23 batters in 22 2/3 innings of work. Mick Vorhof has three saves to go along with a 4-0 record and a 3.37 ERA in 19 appearances.