Canyon Opens Series With Sweep of Hilo

Tuesday, March 20

Phoenix, AZ

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Hilo

GCU freshman pitcher Kiley Raica had a win and a save in Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of Hawai'i Hilo.

3/20/2012 6:46:00 PM | Softball

Grand Canyon moved into second place in the Pacific West Conference softball standings with a doubleheader sweep of Hawai’i Hilo at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium Tuesday.

GCU moved ahead of Hilo with wins by scores of 7-5 and 7-4.

The Antelopes (14-8, 5-1) are three games behind Hawai’i Pacific, who is 11-1 in league play. Hilo (12-5, 7-4) dropped to third, three and one-half games behind the Sea Warriors. GCU and Hilo wrap up the four-game series Wednesday with a doubleheader at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium beginning at noon.

“It’s great to be excited (about the two wins), but we have to come out tomorrow and get back to work,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson. “(Hilo) will be gunning for us. We know it’s not over until the last at- bat.”

GCU found that out in the second game of Tuesday’s twinbill. Hilo went for three runs in its final at-bat, before reliever Kiley Raica fanned pinch-hitter Asha Prithviraj with the bases loaded to end the game.

Kiki Sepulveda (2-1) had a stellar performance to earn the victory. She got out of a bases loaded jam in the first, giving up just one run. It started a stretch where she retired 13 of 14 batters faced. In the sixth, two runners reached on error prior to her retiring the next three batters. She struck out five in six and one-third innings.

In fact, Sepulveda helped herself in the fourth inning. Tied 1-1, she hit a two-out single off the right field fence to begin a two-run rally. Kayla Henry followed with a single and when the ball was booted by Hilo center fielder Angie Cruz, both runners moved up a base.

Sepulveda scored on a Haley Walker single and Henry came across when Stephanie Smith reached on an error by Hilo shortstop Nicole Alconcel.

In the sixth, Vanessa Chavez started the GCU inning with her second double of the game. With two outs, Walker hit a home run to left field to give the Antelopes a 5-1 lead. It was Walker’s first home run, at any level of play, and only her second extra-base hit of the season.

“That was a huge spark,” said Pierson. “That’s a testament to her and her buying into our hitting philosophy and work in getting stronger.”

Smith and Kara Holtorf followed with singles and Kelsey Barak doubled to finish off the four-run frame to give the Antelopes a 7-1 lead.

In the opener, another home run helped ignite the GCU offense.

Leading 1-0, Barak hit a three-run second-inning homer to extend the ’Lopes advantage. Henry, who combined to go 5-for-6 in the doubleheader, started the inning with the first of her three singles. Smith, who walked, also scored ahead of Barak’s blast to straightaway center field.

The margin grew to 6-0 in the third. Brandi Gaffin led off with a walk and went to second on a single from Henry. Walker’s bunt moved up runners, but an errant throw to first by catcher Brittany Spencer, let Gaffin score and Henry move to third. Henry was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice, but Walker scored the sixth run when Holtorf doubled to right field.

Hilo battled back with four in the fourth and another run in the fifth. GCU picked up its seventh run in the fifth. Henry reached on a single. Walker followed with a bunt single. Both runners moved up on a Smith ground out. After Holtorf walked, Henry scored when Barak hit into a fielder’s choice.

Raica (9-3) went the distance and was the winning pitcher in the opener.

“It’s always a huge day when you can sweep in the conference, but even more so against a team as talented and athletic as Hilo,” said Pierson. “I’m proud of how we came out with the proper mindset to play.”

Fans unable to attend Wednesday’s doubleheader can follow all the action with live stats available on the GCU Athletics web site at www.GCULopes.com.

GCU 7, UHH 5
GCU 7, UHH 4