Antelopes Sweep Pair at Home

Saturday, February 18

Phoenix, AZ

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Fort Lewis

Claire Zampini had five hits in Saturday's doubleheader victory.

2/18/2012 10:56:00 AM | Softball

Grand Canyon (5-6) improved to 5-1 at Stapleton-Pierson Field with two wins Saturday. The Antelopes opened the morning with a 7-0 win against Fort Lewis and followed with an 8-2 triumph over Western New Mexico.

Against Fort Lewis, freshman Kiley Raica threw her second shutout of the season and the 'Lopes scored all the runs they needed in a six-run second.

Raica gave up just six hits and is 3-2 on the season.

Freshman shortstop Kelsey Barak had a two-run triple in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Barak and sophomores Claire Zampini and Stephanie Smith each had two hits. Barak also had nine assists.

Frosh Lauren Regester had her eight-game hitting streak ended.

A one-out single by Lisa Tarnowski started the six-run rally. Smith followed with a single and Christine Jordan (CJ) Norvell reached on an error to load the bases. Kara Holtorf grounded to second, but Natalie Janes' throw home was too late to get Tarnowski. Haley Walker and Kayla Henry followed with RBI-singles and, with two-out, Barak tripled in two more runs.

It was Norvell's first time in the batting order after nursing an injury that relegated her to only playing defense.

"It was really nice to have CJ back in the lineup," said GCU coach Ann Pierson. "Her leadership and presence in the lineup is a big boost to the team."

In the fourth, Walker reached on an error and later came around to score, thanks to a single by Zampini and sac fly from Barak.

Raica retired the side in order twice. Her only trouble came in the sixth when Chelsea Rodriguez hit a one-out single and Myndee Thompson followed with a double. A liner to Holtorf in center and ground ball to Barak at short ended the inning.

Against Western New Mexico, GCU took advantage of another big inning. A five-run fourth gave senior pitcher Brittany Manzoline all the runs she would need. Raica came in relief and threw no-hit ball for the final three innings.

In the fourth, GCU had consecutive doubles from Barak, Regester and Tarnowski. Holtorf and Zampini each had singles in the frame.

Zampini had a five-hit day, picking up three more hits against the Mustangs. Holtorf and Tarnowski also had two-hit games. Holtorf's second-inning double got the offense started, scoring Tarnowski, who had earlier walked.

GCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Tarnowski started the second with a walk and went to second on Smith's sac bunt. Holtorf doubled and scored when Walker's fly ball to left was dropped.

The Antelopes went up 3-0 when Zampini opened the third with a single. She moved to second on a Barak ground out and scored on a two-out double by Smith. Five of Grand Canyon's 11 hits were doubles.

It was Manzoline's first win of the season and Raica's first save. Manzoline did not give up an earned run. She allowed just two hits, struck out two and walked four.

"I was really happy with our overall team effort both games," said Pierson. "It started in the circle with Kiley and Brittany. They were outstanding with their control, mixing pitches and hitting their spots. They kept the batters off balance and let our defense do the work and that's our plan all along."

GCU will play Fort Lewis at 9 a.m. Sunday and Western New Mexico at 4:30 p.m.

"We'll have to play well to beat them both," added Pierson. "Any time a team plays after losing, they'll be gunning for you even more. We'll have to play well to beat two very good teams."

Fans unable to attend can follow the action with live stats available at www.GCULopes.com.

GCU 7, FLC 0
GCU 8, WNMU 2