Lopes don't take bait, split with Gators

Softball

3-20-09

Kara Holtorf wasn't ready for tough questions. But the freshman left fielder delivered in a tough situation.

Holtorf rapped a single up the middle with the game tied against an opponent Grand Canyon had yet to find a way to beat up until this point. All that changed when Holtorf's laser through the box found its way to the outfield grass, allowing Nikki Lorenzi to race around from second to score the winning run in a 10-9 come-from-behind Antelopes victory over San Francisco State University Friday at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium.

It was the first time GCU (22-14) has beaten the Gators in three meetings this year after dropping the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, 10-4.

"We've been kind of in a rut," said Holtorf, who earlier this year tied a school-record 10-game hitting streak and has hit safely in three straight games now. "We've been struggling a little bit. We just had to prove to ourselves we can beat 'em."

Beat the Gators (11-14) the Antelopes did.

They did it with the long ball -- a two-run shot by Yasmeen Watkins (pictured main page) in the first inning to get the Lopes off to a hot start in Game 2. They did it with clutch relief pitching by Jessica Palma, who came on in a sticky situation and silenced the Gators bats late. They did it with the double -- Tana Holtorf had two, Randi Johns ripped one and starting pitcher Sammi Tiefenthaler delivered another.

It was Watkins' fourth home run of the year.

"We just have to find that drive again, and we have," Kara Holtorf said, following a four-hit day. "We started it today."

Game-by-game this crusade goes for the Lopes, who've discovered that it's all or nothing now. Following a hot start when all was clicking right through the first 25 games of the season, they hit a stumbling block. But the Antelopes, who improved to 6-3 at home, have rebounded nicely with two opportunities Saturday against San Francisco State in another twin bill beginning at 11 a.m.

San Francisco State overcame a 6-0 deficit, scoring once in the fourth and eight times in the fifth to take a a 9-6 lead. But Tracy Lubken's RBI single through the left side and Tana Holtorf's two-run bloop single to shallow right field tied the game.

Tana Holtorf (pictured right) was 3 for 4 with two RBI in Game 2, following a 2 for 5 day at the plate in Game 1 to raise her average 15 points to .360. Not a bad day's work.

Not a bad second game's work for her team. Yet, while the Lopes would've liked to have swept the sub-.500 team, racking up wins is what's most important for a team that's a lock to break the school record for wins in a season.

"It's all about energy for us," Kara Holtorf said. "Energy is a big part of it."

Grand Canyon was outhit 14-11 in the first game -- a contest the Gators nickled and dimed the Lopes for three runs in the first and fifth innings and two more in the seventh to put a wrap on a two-hour and twenty-eight minute verdict.

Palma, who took the loss in the opener, giving up seven runs on nine hits and five walks, bounced back with a nifty relief performance in the second game. She worked the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, no runs and no walks to claim her eighth win of the year. She took over for Tiefenthaler, who started strong before being roughed up late for 11 hits, nine runs, four earned and three walks.

"Jess came out and she pitched a great rest of the game," Kara Holtorf said. "She really came through for us."

Now the Antelopes will try to translate this late rally into something big on Saturday.

"I think we're gonna come out tomorrow and we're gonna stay re-energized," Kara Holtorf said. "We're gonna come out with a bang."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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