DENVER – After a year without baseball, the 2021 WAC Tournament returns to Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. and it will be the Grand Canyon Lopes holding the top seed when action begins on Wednesday.
The Lopes finished the season with a league record of 29-7, earning a share of the WAC regular season title with California Baptist. The Lopes led the WAC this season with 531 hits. On the hill, Pierson Ohl posted a record of 9-1 and Carter Young finished the regular season at 8-1.
Defending tournament champion Sacramento State will be the second seed after taking three-of-four from UTRGV over the weekend. Matt Smith leads the Hornets offensively, boasting a .399 batting average with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 44 RBIs. Scott Randall is Sacramento State’s ace, boasting a 6-2 record with a 2.94 ERA and 99 strikeouts compared with just seven walks.
UT Rio Grande Valley will be the third seed. The Vaqueros will head to Mesa having won on Saturday to improve their record to 20-15 in WAC play. Andy Atwood is the most dangerous UTRGV player offensively, hitting .339 on the season with 11 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 29 RBIs. On the hill, Kevin Stevens has been the top pitcher for UTRGV, putting together a 7-4 record with 87 strikeouts and a 3.06 ERA.
The fourth seed goes to NM State, who heads to Mesa well-rested after having a bye this weekend. The Aggies finished the WAC season with a record of 16-20 against league opponents. Zerek Saenz leads NM State at the plate, holding a .377 batting average with 25 RBIs.
Seattle U takes the fifth seed after going 10-22 in WAC play. Gavin Rork leads the Redhawks offensively, hitting .280 with seven extra-base hits. As a staff, the Redhawks hold a 5.27 earned-run average.
The final seed goes to Utah Valley, who won at Seattle U on Saturday to clinch the sixth seed. Mitch Moralez has the top batting average for UVU, hitting .282 with seven doubles and four home runs. Alexander Marco has 22 doubles for the Wolverines.
The 2021 WAC Tournament begins at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. All games will be shown live throughout the United States on ESPN+ and will also be simulcast on the WAC Digital Network for international viewers.
