Jayhawks Head Back to Arizona, Face GCU in Midweek Series

LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the second time in three weeks, the Kansas baseball team heads to Arizona, this time to face Western Athletic Conference (WAC) foe Grand Canyon, March 3-4, at Brazell Stadium in Phoenix.
 
Tuesday’s game is slated for an 8 p.m. (CT) first pitch and can be seen live on COX7 Arizona (Cox7.com) and on COX in the state of Kansas. The mid-week series concludes Wednesday with an afternoon matinee beginning at 3:30 p.m. (CT).
 
While this is the first time Kansas will play at Brazell Stadium in 19 years, the two teams are no strangers. This week’s two-game set serves as a return trip for the Jayhawks as Grand Canyon visited Lawrence last season for a similar matchup during the week at Hoglund Ballpark.
 
KU and GCU split the series last season, with the ‘Lopes taking the first game, 5-3, a game in which the Jayhawks committed three errors that played a major factor in the final outcome. KU bounced back in the finale with a 7-1 victory behind seven innings of work from Jon Hander, who picked up his first collegiate victory in the game.
 
Junior pitcher Hayden Edwards brings a 2.89 ERA to Phoenix and will make his third-career start on Tuesday, hoping to duplicate his efforts from his last start, a 15-2 victory over Chicago State (Feb. 26) in which he tossed a career-high six innings and struck out a career-high nine batters.
 
Head coach Ritch Price and associate head coach Ryan Graves have yet to name a starter for Wednesday’s bout, as the Jayhawks used a lot of arms last weekend in the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida. The duo does not want to name a starter as of yet to make sure the pitcher that does get the nod is both mentally and physically prepared for the task.
 
Both games will be available to listen to on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio or on the official Kansas Jayhawks mobile app. The Tuesday night bout will also be aired on COX7 Arizona, COX Communications in Kansas and will also be available via an online stream at COX7.com.
 
After spending 17 of the last 21 days on the road, the Jayhawks return to Lawrence to open up Hoglund Ballpark with a three-game set against Utah, March 6-8, before welcoming northerners Central Michigan and Michigan.
 
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