Antelopes Sweep Chaminade; Tied for First in PacWest

Saturday, March 24

Phoenix, AZ

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Chaminade

GCU's softball team swept a doubleheader with Chaminade Saturday and is in a first-place tie in the PacWest.

3/24/2012 5:07:00 PM | Softball

Grand Canyon swept a Pacific West Conference doubleheader over Chaminade on “Strike Out Cancer” Day at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium.

GCU (17-9, 8-2) won by scores of 5-0 and 8-2.

Donations were taken for the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the stadium. The team wore pink uniforms and the bases were designed with Komen Foundation pink ribbon logo. Pink T-shirts were also sold with donations going to breast cancer research. Two breast cancer survivors threw out the first pitches.

In game one, freshman pitcher Kiley Raica threw a three-hit shutout to improve to 10-4 on the season. It was her 10th complete game and fourth shutout of the season.

“Kiley really attacked their hitters and our defense was great,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson.

GCU took a 1-0 lead in the third on consecutive singles from Kara Holtorf, Kelsey Barak and Lauren Regester.

It broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning. The Antelopes had just one hit in the frame, but took advantage of a pair of Chaminade errors and three walks. Vanessa Chavez's leadoff single was the only hit. Brandi Gaffin reached on an error and both runners moved up a base on a passed ball. Haley Walker drew a walk to load the bases. Stephanie Smith grounded back to the pitcher, who threw home to force out Chavez. Holtorf then walked to score the first of three runs. Walker came across when Barak reached on an error and Smith came home on a wild pitch.

Holtorf doubled with one out in the sixth and scored on a sac fly by Regester.

“(Holtorf) was a force the entire day,” said Pierson. “She’s getting hits, moving runners, running the bases well; she’s doing everything on offense.”

After getting behind 2-0 in the second game, GCU scored the next eight.

The Chaminade lead wasn’t for long. In the second inning, Smith hit a three-run home run, her first as a GCU player, to give the ’Lopes a 3-2 lead. Kayla Henry, who had singled, and Walker, who reached on a fielder’s choice also scored.

“That was a big hit for Steph,” said Pierson. “We rode that momentum and hit the ball well the rest of the day.”
The Antelopes added one each in the fifth and sixth innings. A Smith double started the fifth. She scored on a Barak sac fly. Claire Zampini got on with an error to start the sixth. She scored after a Chavez sacrifice bunt, a ground out and another Chaminade error.

A Barak triple and Zampini double highlighted a three-run seventh. GCU had four extra base hits in the game. Holtorf and Chavez each had singles in the inning. Regester had another sacrifice fly.

Kiki Sepulveda won for the fourth time and third time this week. After giving up two runs in the first, she gave up only two hits and retired the final 14 batters faced.

“I thought Kiki pitched very well and commanded her zone well,” Pierson said. “(Catcher) Christine Jordan (CJ) Norvell was great behind the plate and our defense was solid all day.”

With the two wins and Hawai’i Pacific losing twice at Dixie State, GCU is in a three-way tie for first in the PacWest with HPU and California Baptist.

HPU comes to Phoenix for a four-game series Monday and Tuesday at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. Doubleheaders start at noon each day.

Fans unable to attend can follow the game with live stats. A link to the live coverage is available at www.GCULopes.com.

GCU 5, CUH 0
GCU 8, CUH 2