GCU Loses 1-0 to Dominguez Hills in Tourney Opener

Friday, May 4

Carson, CA

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

CSU Dominguez Hills

Sophomore pitcher Kiki Sepulveda has gone 13.1 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run.

5/4/2012 4:14:00 PM | Softball

Grand Canyon (34-20) lost 1-0 to No. 10 CSU Dominguez Hills (42-13) in its NCAA West I Region opener at Toro Diamond Friday in Carson, Calif.

GCU had just one hit, a sixth-inning single by Kayla Henry, off CSUDH pitcher Stephanie Jimenez (23-5).

In the bottom of the seventh, CSU pinch-runner Ciara Campos scored on a throwing error for the game’s lone run.

The Antelopes will take on Chico State in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Toro Diamond. The winner will play again at 4 p.m. against the loser of the CSU Dominguez Hills-Sonoma State contest. Fans can follow all the action with live stats and live audio. Links to the live coverage are available at www.GCULopes.com.

“It was a pressure-packed game and our young team stood up to it and didn’t play scared or afraid,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson, whose team started five freshmen and two sophomores. “I’m proud the way they went after it and our seniors, too. That’s what we need tomorrow.”

GCU pitcher Kiki Sepulveda scattered seven hits and fell to 14-7 on the season.

“Kiki threw a great game,” said Pierson. “She was outstanding. She worked out of jams and our defense was outstanding throughout the game.”

The Antelopes went down in order in their first four at-bats. With two outs in the fifth, second baseman Vanessa Chavez reached on a walk prior to Christine Jordan (CJ) Norvell flying out to center field to end the inning. Henry broke up the no-hitter with a single to start the sixth, but when Haley Walker lined to third on a hit-and-run, Henry was doubled off first.

With one out in the seventh, PacWest Player and Freshman of the Year Kelsey Barak hit a deep fly ball to left field, but Alyssa Cruz corralled it just shy of the fence.

“We had some battles with Jimenez, but she threw an outstanding game, too,” said Pierson. “She threw a great game against a very good offense.”

Sepulveda got out of trouble every inning but the seventh. The first inning was her only 1-2-3 frame and she pitched masterfully – with the help of a solid defense – throughout the day. Dominguez Hills got its lead-off hitter on in every inning but the first and second, but until the seventh, Sepulveda and the defense made sure no one would cross the plate.

Though the lead-off hitters were getting on, they weren’t getting far. The sixth inning was the first time the Toros had a runner in scoring position with less than two outs and only second time they were in scoring position for the game. Khryssi Steele singled to start the sixth, but was erased on a force out to Chavez at second. Jessica Hall hit a single to move pinch-runner Catherine Brown to second. Melissa Pacheco got on with a walk to load the bases, but GCU got out without damage. Jimenez grounded to Barak at short and she threw home to Norvell for the force out. Daisy Beltran grounded into a fielder’s choice to Chavez to end the inning.

In the seventh, Dominguez Hills’ Christina Chavez led off with a single. Pinch-hitter Kaci McGinnis put down a sac bunt to move Campos to second. Jackie Reyes hit a ground ball to third. Stephanie Smith fielded the ball cleanly but her throw sailed just out of reach of first baseman Lauren Regester and Campos scored with the game’s only run.

CSUDH 1 GCU 0