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Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, April 7
Turlock, CA
8:30 a.m.
Grand Canyon
3
vs
1
San Francisco State
Claire Zampini went 5-for-8 with three runs scored, two RBIs, two runs scored and three stolen bases in two wins Sunday at the Tournament of Champions. She was also selected to the All-Tournament team.
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Antelopes End TOC With Two Wins Sunday
4/7/2013 2:54:00 PM | Softball
Grand Canyon avenged one of its tournament losses and added another win Sunday to finish play in the Tournament of Champions Presented by Mizuno in Turlock. Calif., with a 5-2 record.
Playing in the Bronze Bracket, GCU beat San Francisco State 3-1 – it lost to the Gators 1-0 Saturday – and defeated CSU San Bernardino 17-1. The Antelopes are ranked No. 21 in the nation and are 32-12 with 12 games, all in the Pacific West Conference, remaining. GCU is 15-5 in the PacWest and in second place, two games behind Hawai’i Hilo.
In the win over San Francisco State, GCU scored all of its runs in the first two innings. Claire Zampini, who was selected to the all-tournament team, singled and scored on a two-out first-inning double by Lauren Regester. In the second, after winning pitcher Kiki Sepulveda walked and Nicole Newbury singled, Kayla Henry hit a two-out, two-run triple.
Sepulveda improved to 11-2, her lone strikeout came on the game’s final out with the Gators having two runners on base. Sepulveda gave up eight hits and walked one.
GCU had 16 hits and took advantage of five Coyote errors in the win over CSUSB. Newbury, Zampini and winning pitcher Stephanie Pesqueira each had three hits. Pesqueira helped her cause with four RBIs. Kelsey Barak also drove in four runs.
The Antelopes scored seven in the third and nine in the sixth, ending the game after six due to the mercy rule (eight-run lead after five innings). Seven different players scored at least two runs and eight players had at least one hit, five had at least two hits.
Pesqueira improved to 15-7. She had three strikeouts and gave up four hits.
“The kids came out aggressive and with some energy,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson. “Kiki and Pesky were good, defense was solid and our bats were hot. They all had a plan at the plate and executed well.”
The Antelopes were among a number of teams in the tournament that were unable to compete in either bracket semifinals or finals (They would have taken on Simon Fraser in the Bronze Bracket final) because they would exceed the NCAA Division II rule for number of games allowed for a season.
GCU ends the home portion of its schedule this week with conference doubleheaders Thursday (Holy Names) and Saturday (Academy Art) starting at noon. Saturday’s doubleheader will be Senior Day, acknowledging GCU’s lone senior Vanessa Ramirez.
GCU 3, SFS 1
GCU 17, CSUSB 1
2013 Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno
Gold Bracket Winner: Cal State Dominguez Hills Silver Bracket Winner: UC San Diego Bronze Bracket Winner: Simon Fraser Platinum Bracket Winner: Academy of Art
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Valuable Player:
Stephanie Jimenez, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Name, School, Position, Year
Adriana Sanchez, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UTL, Jr.
Veronica Vasquez, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UTL, Jr.
Madi Davis, Saint Martin's, OF, Sr.
Taylor Bakos, Saint Martin's, P, Sr.
Ali Palermo, Sonoma State, 1B, Sr.
Ancia Purdy, Sonoma State, SS, So.
Samantha Lipperd, Sonoma State, P, Sr.
Katie Obbema, Humboldt State, P, Fr.
Jennifer Manuel, UC San Diego, P, Jr.
Cori Reinhardt, Cal State Monterey Bay, P/1B, So.
Katrina Oviedo, Azusa Pacific, 2B, So.
Jessica Avila, Cal Baptist, P, Fr.
Rayna Strom-Okimoto, Chaminade, IF, Sr.
Claire Zampini, Grand Canyon, OF, Jr.
Heidy Wells, Central Washington, P, So.
Kelsey Murakami, San Francisco State, IF, Jr.
Top Hitter (regular starters):
Ali Palermo, Sonoma State
(.545, 12-for-22, 8 RBI, 1 HR, 3 Runs)
Top Pitcher (not necessary lowest ERA):
Jessica Avila, Cal Baptist
(3-0, 0.30 ERA, 3 CG, 2 SHO, 23 IP, 16 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 16 K)
Top Team Batting:
1. Cal State Dominguez Hills (.333)
1. Chaminade (.333)
3. Grand Canyon (.321)
Top Team Pitching:
1. Cal Baptist (0.38)
2. Grand Canyon (0.70)
3. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1.09)
Playing in the Bronze Bracket, GCU beat San Francisco State 3-1 – it lost to the Gators 1-0 Saturday – and defeated CSU San Bernardino 17-1. The Antelopes are ranked No. 21 in the nation and are 32-12 with 12 games, all in the Pacific West Conference, remaining. GCU is 15-5 in the PacWest and in second place, two games behind Hawai’i Hilo.
In the win over San Francisco State, GCU scored all of its runs in the first two innings. Claire Zampini, who was selected to the all-tournament team, singled and scored on a two-out first-inning double by Lauren Regester. In the second, after winning pitcher Kiki Sepulveda walked and Nicole Newbury singled, Kayla Henry hit a two-out, two-run triple.
Sepulveda improved to 11-2, her lone strikeout came on the game’s final out with the Gators having two runners on base. Sepulveda gave up eight hits and walked one.
GCU had 16 hits and took advantage of five Coyote errors in the win over CSUSB. Newbury, Zampini and winning pitcher Stephanie Pesqueira each had three hits. Pesqueira helped her cause with four RBIs. Kelsey Barak also drove in four runs.
The Antelopes scored seven in the third and nine in the sixth, ending the game after six due to the mercy rule (eight-run lead after five innings). Seven different players scored at least two runs and eight players had at least one hit, five had at least two hits.
Pesqueira improved to 15-7. She had three strikeouts and gave up four hits.
“The kids came out aggressive and with some energy,” said GCU coach Ann Pierson. “Kiki and Pesky were good, defense was solid and our bats were hot. They all had a plan at the plate and executed well.”
The Antelopes were among a number of teams in the tournament that were unable to compete in either bracket semifinals or finals (They would have taken on Simon Fraser in the Bronze Bracket final) because they would exceed the NCAA Division II rule for number of games allowed for a season.
GCU ends the home portion of its schedule this week with conference doubleheaders Thursday (Holy Names) and Saturday (Academy Art) starting at noon. Saturday’s doubleheader will be Senior Day, acknowledging GCU’s lone senior Vanessa Ramirez.
GCU 3, SFS 1
GCU 17, CSUSB 1
2013 Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno
Gold Bracket Winner: Cal State Dominguez Hills Silver Bracket Winner: UC San Diego Bronze Bracket Winner: Simon Fraser Platinum Bracket Winner: Academy of Art
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Valuable Player:
Stephanie Jimenez, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Name, School, Position, Year
Adriana Sanchez, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UTL, Jr.
Veronica Vasquez, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UTL, Jr.
Madi Davis, Saint Martin's, OF, Sr.
Taylor Bakos, Saint Martin's, P, Sr.
Ali Palermo, Sonoma State, 1B, Sr.
Ancia Purdy, Sonoma State, SS, So.
Samantha Lipperd, Sonoma State, P, Sr.
Katie Obbema, Humboldt State, P, Fr.
Jennifer Manuel, UC San Diego, P, Jr.
Cori Reinhardt, Cal State Monterey Bay, P/1B, So.
Katrina Oviedo, Azusa Pacific, 2B, So.
Jessica Avila, Cal Baptist, P, Fr.
Rayna Strom-Okimoto, Chaminade, IF, Sr.
Claire Zampini, Grand Canyon, OF, Jr.
Heidy Wells, Central Washington, P, So.
Kelsey Murakami, San Francisco State, IF, Jr.
Top Hitter (regular starters):
Ali Palermo, Sonoma State
(.545, 12-for-22, 8 RBI, 1 HR, 3 Runs)
Top Pitcher (not necessary lowest ERA):
Jessica Avila, Cal Baptist
(3-0, 0.30 ERA, 3 CG, 2 SHO, 23 IP, 16 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 16 K)
Top Team Batting:
1. Cal State Dominguez Hills (.333)
1. Chaminade (.333)
3. Grand Canyon (.321)
Top Team Pitching:
1. Cal Baptist (0.38)
2. Grand Canyon (0.70)
3. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1.09)
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