Lopes swept by San Francisco State

Softball

3-21-09

This is getting to the point where it's win or else.

Ask Yasmeen Watkins, who stood on second base after ripping a double off the left-center field wall with no outsin the bottom of the seventh to bring Grand Canyon University within a run of salvaging a split in the weekend series with San Francisco State. But second is where Watkins remained as the next three outs rolled before her eyes.

"It's the most frustrating thing in the world," said Watkins, who went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI, in the 8-7 second game loss after dropping the opener, 8-3.

Frustration is understatement. Grand Canyon (22-16) has lost 12 of its past 17 games after finding itself among the nation's best, ranked No. 21 in the NFCA Coaches Poll.

Pitching has plummetted now that the Lopes are down to two arms after one of its regulars suffered a back injury and a fourth option is no longer on the team. Sammi Tiefenthaler (pictured main page) took the first game loss, allowing 11 hits, eight runs and four walks. Jessica Palma lost the second game, allowing 12 hits, eight runs and four walks

"We have two pitchers to work with," Watkins said, following a 3 for 6, 4 RBI day that raised her batting average to .357 with a team-best 42 RBI. "It's hard for them to know, 'I'm going to pitch seven innings straight. You play a lot of games. Between three pitchers, they're going to be exhausted."

No time for the weary anymore. Not with conference foe Notre Dame de Namur knocking in Sunday's 12 p.m. doubleheader at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. That's the message coach Ann Pierson gave her club after a disappointing end to a winnable series.

"We have to get two wins tomorrow," said Watkins (pictured right), relaying Pierson's post-game message.

Two would have been nice on this day, but a four-spot to the Gators (13-14) in the first and third innings didn't help matters much. Not when the Lopes were outhit, 11-6, in Game 1 and 12-8 in Game 2.

Grand Canyon catcher Erika Reay (pictured left) belted two doubles in the second game and drove in two runs after going 1 for 3 in the first game. Nicole Lorenzi had a hit in each game, extending her hitting streak to five games. But more than individual numbers this Antelopes team needs collective efforts that result in Ws.

"It gets frustrating," Watkins said. "I think everybody's still together. We just came up short today."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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