GCU Wins Two

Saturday, February 12

Las Vegas, NV

12:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Saint Martin's (Desert Stinger)

2/12/2011 7:47:48 PM | Softball

By: Brooke Baker

The Grand Canyon University softball team won both its games today against St Martin’s University (9-1) and Montana State University-Billings (7-1).

The ‘Lopes played the Saints and beat them on a mercy rule decision in the bottom of the sixth inning, 9-1.

St. Martin’s scored early in the first inning and held GCU at zero.

Grand Canyon scored one in the second inning to tie the game. Michelle Rasmussen (Puyallup, WA, Emerald Ridge HS (Arizona Western CC)) singled through the left side to put her on first. Then Samantha Wyatt (Glendale, AZ, Independence HS) was hit by a pitch to advance Rasmussen to second. A single by Kara Holtorf (Peoria, AZ, Sunrise Mountain HS) followed and Claire Zampini (Phoenix, AZ, Deer Valley) reached base on an error sending Rasmussen home, 1-1.

GCU scored twice in the second inning. Bases were loaded when the opposing pitcher walked Rasmussen and Wyatt back-to-back, scoring two runs. The fourth inning was scoreless, but the ‘Lopes came alive in the fifth and sixth scoring three runs in each. Freshman Dani Jackman (Mill Creek, WA, Henry M. Jackson) hit a homerun to right center in the fifth. Freshmen Rachel Meyer (Gilbert, AZ, Mesquite) and Zampini each had a homerun in the sixth. The Saints brought in a relief pitcher in the sixth and on the first pitch Meyer sent it over the fence to win the game 9-1.

Next Grand Canyon took on Montana State-Billings and came out with a 7-1 win. The first three innings were scoreless before Meyer came out in the fourth inning to hit her second homerun of the day. Then in the fifth, Zampini singled to left field. Wyatt went for a bunt and was thrown out at first to send Zampini to second. A single by Teddy Barry (Phoenix, AZ, Greenway HS (Phoenix College)) sent Zampini home to put the ‘Lopes ahead by two.

GCU scored five runs on seven hits in the sixth inning to put the score at 7-0. Billings scored one run the seventh but it wasn’t enough to pass the ‘Lopes. Pitcher Ivy Campas (Tucson, AZ, Sunnyside HS (Phoenix College)) had nine strikeouts, giving up just one hit.

Grand Canyon is currently 3-1 for the weekend, 6-4 overall. The ‘Lopes will take on Central Washington University Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2:30 pm.

Grand Canyon 9, St. Martin's 1
Grand Canyon 7, MSU-Billings 1