Softball Splits Final Two Games of GCU Invitational

Sunday, February 6

Mesa, AZ (Quail Run)

10:00 a.m.

Grand Canyon

California State Monterey Bay

Kaycee Gamez

2/7/2011 8:56:11 AM | Softball

By: Joel Horn

The No. 14-ranked Grand Canyon University softball team split its final two games of the GCU Invitational, defeating Cal State Monterey Bay 10-0 and losing to No. 23-ranked Midwestern State 7-6, yesterday at Quail Run Sports Complex in Mesa.

The Antelopes are 3-3 on the season.

In the first game, GCU scored seven runs on six hits in a wild bottom of the second inning. Senior first baseman Michelle Rasmussen (Puyallup, WA/Emerald Ridge, Arizona Western College), who is batting .583 this season, singled to center field. Freshman designated player Rachel Meyer (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) was hit by a pitch. After an out, freshman second baseman Claire Zampini (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley) singled to the pitcher and junior center field Kara Holtorf (Peoria, AZ/Sunrise Mountain) reached on a fielder's choice. Rasmussen was out at home on the play. Junior shortstop Kaycee Gamez (Eugene, OR/Sheldon), who is batting .500 this year, doubled to left field, driving in three runs. Senior left fielder Teddy Barry (Glendale, AZ/Greenway, Phoenix College) was hit by a pitch. Senior third baseman Montana Lucas (Glendale, AZ/Cactus, Phoenix College) doubled, scoring Gamez and Barry. Junior pitcher Ivy Campas (Tucson, AZ/Sunnyside, Phoenix College) singled, driving in Lucas. Rasmussen walked, and Meyer singeld to center, scoring Campas.

The 'Lopes pushed two more runs across the plate in the bottom of the third. With one out, Holtorf was hit by a pitch, and Gamez homered to left field.

In the bottom of the fourth, Campas singled to left, Rasmussen walked, Campas advanced to second on a balk and Meyer singled to left, driving in Campas for the game's final run.

For the game, Gamez was 2-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored; Lucas was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored; Campas was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored; and Meyer was 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored.

Campas improved her season record to 2-1. She pitched fve innings and allowed three hits and no runs, walked two and had four strikeouts.

The Otters fell to 3-2 on the season.

In the second game, Midwestern State (6-0) plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning, one in the second and two in the fifth.

GCU scored one run in the top of the second, when Rasmussen homered to center field, and two more in the fourth, when junior infielder Vanessa Chavez (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic, Central Arizona College), pinch hitting for Gamez, who left the game due to injury, singled to left and scored on Lucas' home run to left.

The game got really interesting in the top of the seventh, when Rasmussen led off and was hit by a pitch. Junior outfielder Vanessa Ramirez (Phoenix, AZ/St. Mary's, Mesa Community College) pinch ran for her. Meyer singled to left. After an out, sophomore right fielder Samantha Wyatt (Glendale, AZ/Independence) tripled, scoring Ramirez and Meyer. Zampini doubled, driving in Wyatt and bringing the potential winning run to the plate. Zampini advanced to third on a wild pitch before the final two outs were recorded to end the game.

Zampini went 3-for-4 with one RBI, Lucas was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, and Wyatt went 1-for3 with two RBI and one run scored.

GCU 10, Cal State Monterey Bay 0
Midwestern State 7, GCU 6

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