{"id":677450,"date":"2026-04-17T07:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677450\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T07:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:22:11","slug":"gcu-air-force-set-for-3-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677450\/","title":{"rendered":"GCU, Air Force set for 3 games"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nGrand Canyon looks to build off of the momentum of its recent offensive uptick and the pitching prowess of junior lefty Chase Frey<\/a>, as the Lopes host a second conseuctive home Mountain West Weekend. GCU and Air Force play a three-game set with first pitch set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sunday’s finale at 12 p.m.<\/p>\n

All three games will stream on Mountain West Network<\/a>\u00a0and televised\u00a0on Arizona’s Family Sports<\/a>.

\n\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

3 THINGS TO KNOW<\/p>\n


\n\tSURGING BATS:\u00a0GCU’s offense has taken a clear step forward, jumping from 4.5 runs and 7.8 hits per game with a .249 average over its first 26 games to 7.3 runs and 11.6 hits per game with a .300 average over its last 10. The Lopes have produced 10+ hits in seven of those last 10 contests.
\n\t

\n\tFABULOUS FREY:\u00a0Junior lefty\u00a0Chase Frey<\/a> has been dominant in his last two starts, combining for 17 2\/3 innings with just one earned run (0.51 ERA) while striking out 22 hitters. He tossed a complete game shutout at Fresno State before following it with 8 2\/3 innings of one-run ball against UNLV.
\n\t

\n\tTURN IT:\u00a0GCU has turned 32 double plays on the season, a mark that ranks 20th nationally and leads the MW.

\n\t\u00a0 <\/p>\n

SCOUTING AIR FORCE<\/p>\n

Air Force enters the series at 17-18 overall but 8-4 in MW play, positioning itself near the top of the conference standings.\u00a0The Falcons’ profile is split sharply by location: they are 11-0 at home and 4-13 on the road. From a statistical standpoint, the offense has been one of the more productive units in the league, ranking top-20 nationally in runs (17th) and scoring (13th) while also sitting top-30 in on-base percentage (.418). That production is countered by a pitching staff with a 7.35 ERA. The Falcons have swept MW series against UNLV and Fresno State, won a series against Nevada, but got swept at San Diego State.<\/p>\n

Under head coach Mike Kazlausky, now in his 16th season, Air Force has established a consistent identity built around offensive pressure and home-field advantage, even as overall records have fluctuated. The Falcons went 20-34 overall and 12-18 in conference play last season, finishing in the lower half of the MW before taking a step forward early in 2026 league play. Air Force won the Mountain West regular-season title in 2024 and the conference tournament in 2022, which led to its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance.

\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

WHAT’S NEXT?
\nThe 10-game homestand\u00a0finishes with three Big 12\u00a0matchups against Kansas State, BYU and Arizona.
\n\u00a0
\nFor more GCU baseball news, notes and numbers,\u00a0click here to view game notes.
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