The Teams: Tarleton State (10-8, 1-2 WAC) vs. Grand Canyon (9-7, 3-0 WAC)
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
Ballpark: Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark
Day and Time: Friday- 8 p.m. CT, Saturday- 8 p.m. CT, Sunday- 1 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
About the Matchup
 
Game Notes
 •  Tarleton State is sixth place in the WAC headed into the weekend series with the Lopes. 
• The Friday evening matchup with mark the eighth meeting between the two teams. GCU is 7-0 over Tarleton State heading into the series.
• In the most recent game for Tarleton State, the fell one run short in the midweek battle against the Texas State Bobcats with a 2-1 final on Tuesday night. 
• The Texans went 1-2 on the previous weekend, opening up conference play at home against the Wildcats of Abilene Christian. Tarleton State took Game 1 with a 10-4 final. The last two games of the series saw ACU on top with a 4-0 shut out Saturday and a 7-3 final on Sunday.
• The Lopes are coming into the weekend series after a road sweep of Stephen F. Austin and no midweek action.
• In preseason action, GCU has secured wins over Georgetown, USC, BYU Ohio State, Nebraska and UTSA. 
 
Quick Hits
• Zach Poe claimed a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team. 
• Junior Brandon Howell earned the title of WAC Player of the Week on Feb. 26 after one of the best games of his collegiate career at the home opener for the Texans. Howell tied the game against the Roadrunners in the seventh with a two-run home run, then took the game for the Purple and White with a walk-off grand slam for a 14-10 final. Howell was also named The Grove Student Athlete of the Month for February. In the game against the Cardinals, Howell had another momentum changing at bat with a three-run home run to see the Texans up, 15-9 in the top of the ninth, giving the visiting team a healthy lead and locking in the final runs for Tarleton State.
• The WAC Coaches poll saw Tarleton picked to finish 9th out of 11.
• The Texans welcome a new head coach in the 2024 season, Fuller Smith. Smith is accompanied by Nick Zaleski, RD Spiehs and Cody Semler in their inaugural year with the Texan Baseball program. 
• The 2024 Texan Baseball program is comprised of 21 returners and 19 newcomers.
•  Saw their best record since 2018, when the Purple and White claimed the LSC Championship and closed out the year with a record of 35-17.
• Right handed pitcher, Will Stevens was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Stevens takes the slot as the ninth Texan in program history to be selected in the MLB's first year player draft.
 
Fuller Smith Era
       On June 8, 2023, Fuller Smith was named the newest leader of Tarleton State's Baseball program. The Alabama, native, has had a hand in the success of various programs, several of which the Texans will face in conference play. In the previous season, Smith wrapped up his three-year stint as an assistant coach for Sam Houston State University. Prior to his time in Huntsville, Smith spent six seasons at UT Arlington as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The 2008 Ole Miss graduate has a plethora of experience that will be a core source of success for the Purple and White this season. The Fuller Smith Era (on the field) will officially commence with the weekend series against the SLU Lions. 
 
First Power 5 Victory
        With a 6-2 win over Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Tarleton baseball picked up its first win over a Power 5 team in program history. The Texans took struck first in the first inning and never gave the lead up. Piercen McElyea played a big part in the win, striking out a season-high 10 in 5.0 innings of work, walking none. McElyea threw a first pitch strike to 18 of 23 batters he faced. In the 2024 season, the Purple and White will face the Bears in Waco on May 7, and the A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, on April 30. 
 
 
In the Box
        A handful of returners have put up some impressive stats in the 2023 season and have proven to be a leading force for the Texans at the plate. Tyson Drake leads the team in runs (18), has the top batting average for the Texans at .327 and the highest on-base percentage (.486). Brandon Howell leads the Purple and White in home runs (4), slugging percentage (.628) and sits in third with 13 RBI. Mason Crews sits in second with three home runs on the season and the second highest slugging percentage at .579. Trace Morrison leads the team in doubles (6) and RBI (16).  
 
 
Facility Upgrades
      The Tarleton Baseball Complex saw a significant facelift in the offseason. Capacity was increased with the complex now seating over 1,000. A cantilever roof structure providing cover was added and a new press box was installed. This comes after new turf, lights and outfield wall were installed prior to the 2022 season. This scope was phase two for the baseball facility that will continue to see renovations over the coming months.
 
 
Strength in Numbers
       With a 40-man roster in the 2024 season, the Texans have a great balance of experience within the program. The Tarleton State roster is made up of nine freshman, five sophomores, 15 juniors, and 10 seniors. Out of the 25 upperclassmen on the team, only nine are new to Texan Nation. 
 
 
Next Up
      After the weekend series in Phoenix, the Texans will make their way back to Stephenville as they host the Lancers from California Baptist for another weekend of conference play. Game 1 will begin Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday's slate will see a 3 p.m. start time and the series finale will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
 
Recognition
         To kick off the season, Senior, Zach Poe found his name on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team. The Madisonville, Texas, native is a strong arm for the Texans leading the team with the best ERA and WHIP. The right-handed pitcher also leads the team in appearances for the third consecutive season with 23, all out of the bullpen. The most recent recognition for the Texans came on Feb. 26 with Brandon Howell taking the WAC Player of the Week title. In the home opener for the Purple and White, Howell had one of his best collegiate career games with two home runs, one tying the game for the home team and the second winning the game with a walk-off grand slam. Howell also received The Grove Student Athlete of the Month for the month of February. He also took the Purple Thursday Special Performance of the Month for February. 
 
       
Broadcasting On the Worldwide Leader
       Part of the latest renovations to the Tarleton Baseball Complex and Tarleton Softball Complex included the capability to match ESPN standards of multiple camera angles on the broadcast. With that, Tarleton will stream select 2024 baseball and softball home games on ESPN+. All games that are not broadcasted
on ESPN+ will be broadcasted on WAC International. 
 
WAC Preseason Poll
       Tarleton was chosen to finish 9th out of 11 schools in the WAC preseason poll. The poll was released on February 6.  The Texans received 34 total votes and slotted in ahead of Stephen F. Austin and Utah Tech. Grand Canyon was picked to win the league, followed by Utah Valley and California Baptist. The Purple and White are currently in 6th.
 
 
 
Hometown hero
     Trace Morrison is a Stephenville, Texas, native, that has made a large impact on the Texan Baseball program. The outfielder does a stellar job in the box in the 2023 season leading the Purple and White with a .365 average at the plate. In his first two seasons at Tarleton, Morrison has started in 57 games and made saw time in a total of 68 matchups. The junior has amassed 97 put outs, with only two errors in two years for a .981 fielding percentage. Morrison's experience as a lifelong Texan paired with his consistent dedication to the game makes him a key player for Tarleton Baseball. In the 2024 season, Morrison is batting .297 with 10 runs on 19 hits, six doubles, one triple and 16 RBI.