GCU Wins Twice, Advances To Championship Bracket

Saturday, March 31

Turlock, CA

12:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Humboldt State

Kara Holtorf tied the school's all-time stolen base mark Saturday.

3/31/2012 3:29:00 PM | Softball

Grand Canyon (23-12) went 2-1 Saturday in the final round of pool play at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif.

GCU won its first two games, opening with a 10-7 victory over Humboldt State (12-28), and then defeated San Francisco State 4-3 in eight innings. Grand Canyon lost 4-0 to Sonoma State to (24-14) to end the evening.

Still, GCU advanced to the Championship (Gold) Bracket and will play CSU San Bernardino at 12:15 p.m.
Sunday. If the Antelopes win they will take on the winner of CSU Monterey Bay and Saint Martin’s at 2:30 p.m.

"I feel good going into Sunday," said GCU coach Ann Pierson. "We're executing on offense, playing good defense and our pitchers have pitched well. It'd be good to get two games in tomorrow."

Against Humboldt State, the Antelopes’ offense exploded for seven second-inning runs. A one-out single from Vanessa Chavez started the inning. Kiley Raica reached on an error. With two out, Claire Zampini was hit by a pitch. The scoring started on a two-run single from Stephanie Smith. Kara Holtorf walked to load the bases and another run scored when Kelsey Barak was walked with the bases loaded.

After a pitching change, Lauren Regester hit a two-run single to give GCU a 5-0 lead. Another error got Nicole Upshaw on base. Chavez followed with her second single of the inning, scoring two more runs.

Humboldt State came back to cut it to 8-7 in the fifth. GCU added two more in the fifth, starting with a single from Kayla Henry. Zampini was hit by a pitch for the second time. After a sacrifice bunt from Smith, Holtorf singled in Henry. Regester added an RBI-single for the 10th run.

Grand Canyon scored a run in the fourth. Holtorf led the inning off with a bunt single. She later stole third base, giving her eight steals on the season and 48 for her career, tying the school’s all-time record with Teddy Barry (2010-11).

Against San Fran State, GCU trailed 3-0 until the sixth inning. In the sixth, Smith, Holtorf and Barak opened the frame with singles. Smith scored on Barak’s base-hit. Regester got on with a walk and two runs came in on Upshaw’s game-tying double.

In the eighth, with Barak placed on second, Regester had a sacrifice bunt prior to Upshaw’s sac fly to center field.
GCU used four pitchers with Kiki Sepulveda (7-2) picking up the win. The Antelopes had six hits, Regester and Chavez also had singles.

"Nic (Upshaw) was outstanding with the double and sac fly," said Pierson. "And, our defense was outstanding."

Against Sonoma State, GCU managed only five hits off Sonoma State pitcher Samantha Lipperd, who finished with 16 strikeouts.

Holtorf and Henry had two singles each. Sepulveda, who took the loss to fall to 7-3, also had a single.

"Our kids were battling (against LIpperd)," said Pierson. "We had great energy even though we lost. Our energy was great and our defense played well."

Fans can follow the action of Sunday’s bracket play live stats. A link is available for the live coverage at
www.GCULopes.com.

GCU 10, HSU 7
GCU 4, SFSU 3 (8 inn.)
SSU 4, GCU 0