Upcoming Event: Softball versus Pima CC on September 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, February 21
GCU
12:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
5-7
4
vs
9
Southern Utah
1-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
0
4
2
1
0
1
1
9
15
0
Southern Utah
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
4
4
2
Kayla Henry drove in the game-winning run against Nevada.
Photo by: Theon Carrier
GCU Wins Twice in Home Opener
2/21/2014 6:41:00 PM | Softball
Walk-off hit lifts GCU over Nevada
The Grand Canyon University softball team picked up a pair of wins Friday in the opening day of its invitational at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. The Antelopes capped off day one of the tournament with a thrilling one-run win over Nevada, who had previously only been beaten twice in 2014. In GCU's first contest of the day, the 'Lopes used 15 hits to pick up the 9-4 win over Southern Utah. Grand Canyon advanced their record to 6-7 on the season with the two wins on Friday.
Grand Canyon jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against the Thunderbirds and never looked back, as Kelsey Barak drilled a bases-clearing double to right center in the top of the second frame to give the 'Lopes a 4-0 lead.
Kayla Henry and Haley Walker each picked up an RBI in the third to further the Canyon lead to 6-2. The 'Lopes pushed across another run in the fourth when Lauren Regester scored after doubling earlier in the inning.
GCU crossed the plate once in both the sixth and seventh to tally the 9-4 victory over Southern Utah.
Taylor Nowlin picked up her first collegiate win in the circle, tossing five innings and giving up four earned runs. Stephanie Pesqueira hurled the final two innings for GCU, not allowing a hit or a T'bird run.
Claire Zampini and Barak both finished the affair with three hits in four attempts and Nicole Newbury, Stephanie Smith, and Henry all had a pair of hits in the winning effort.
"Kelsey had a huge hit, that's what really got us going offensively," said head coach Ann Pierson. "We strung together a lot of hits and did a good job of putting pressure on the (Southern Utah) defense."
Game Two
Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, GCU used a late-inning rally to down the visiting Wolf Pack.
Lauren Regester got the rally started with a single to center field. Newbury, who was the next batter, laid down a beautiful bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error. The errant throw allowed pinch runner Jenna Coates to get to third base with no outs. After back-to-back GCU strikeouts, Zampini rocketed a ball that bounced off of the shortstop's glove, scoring Coates. Henry stepped into the box and drove a single back up the middle, pushing Newbury across for the game-winning run.
GCU used three consecutive infield singles in the fourth to score three runs and knot the game at five.
Henry and Barak both finished with their second multi-hit contests of the afternoon and freshman Camree Wartman extended her hitting streak to 12, after picking up a base knock in both games on Friday.
Kiki Sepulveda picked up her first win of the season in relief, shutting down Nevada and not allowing a run in 2.2 innings of work. Kailey Regester got the start in the circle, surrendering 10 hits over 4.1 innings of action.
"Kiki did a really good job mixing her speeds and locations and keeping the Nevada hitters off-balance and it was great to have her senior leadership on the mound," added Pierson.
"I was really pleased to see the adjustments we made at the plate, we saw so many different pitchers in two games and we continued to bring an aggressive approach and did a good job executing in our at bats," concluded Pierson. "The girls brought great energy from start to finish and I am proud of the way we battled today."
The 'Lopes will be back on the diamond tomorrow, as they will play Southern Utah at 10:00 a.m. and then will take on Nevada at 12:30 p.m. Fans unable to make it out for the games can find a link for live stats at www.gculopes.com.
GCU 9, Southern Utah 4
GCU 7, Nevada 6
Grand Canyon jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against the Thunderbirds and never looked back, as Kelsey Barak drilled a bases-clearing double to right center in the top of the second frame to give the 'Lopes a 4-0 lead.
Kayla Henry and Haley Walker each picked up an RBI in the third to further the Canyon lead to 6-2. The 'Lopes pushed across another run in the fourth when Lauren Regester scored after doubling earlier in the inning.
GCU crossed the plate once in both the sixth and seventh to tally the 9-4 victory over Southern Utah.
Taylor Nowlin picked up her first collegiate win in the circle, tossing five innings and giving up four earned runs. Stephanie Pesqueira hurled the final two innings for GCU, not allowing a hit or a T'bird run.
Claire Zampini and Barak both finished the affair with three hits in four attempts and Nicole Newbury, Stephanie Smith, and Henry all had a pair of hits in the winning effort.
"Kelsey had a huge hit, that's what really got us going offensively," said head coach Ann Pierson. "We strung together a lot of hits and did a good job of putting pressure on the (Southern Utah) defense."
Game Two
Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, GCU used a late-inning rally to down the visiting Wolf Pack.
Lauren Regester got the rally started with a single to center field. Newbury, who was the next batter, laid down a beautiful bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error. The errant throw allowed pinch runner Jenna Coates to get to third base with no outs. After back-to-back GCU strikeouts, Zampini rocketed a ball that bounced off of the shortstop's glove, scoring Coates. Henry stepped into the box and drove a single back up the middle, pushing Newbury across for the game-winning run.
GCU used three consecutive infield singles in the fourth to score three runs and knot the game at five.
Henry and Barak both finished with their second multi-hit contests of the afternoon and freshman Camree Wartman extended her hitting streak to 12, after picking up a base knock in both games on Friday.
Kiki Sepulveda picked up her first win of the season in relief, shutting down Nevada and not allowing a run in 2.2 innings of work. Kailey Regester got the start in the circle, surrendering 10 hits over 4.1 innings of action.
"Kiki did a really good job mixing her speeds and locations and keeping the Nevada hitters off-balance and it was great to have her senior leadership on the mound," added Pierson.
"I was really pleased to see the adjustments we made at the plate, we saw so many different pitchers in two games and we continued to bring an aggressive approach and did a good job executing in our at bats," concluded Pierson. "The girls brought great energy from start to finish and I am proud of the way we battled today."
The 'Lopes will be back on the diamond tomorrow, as they will play Southern Utah at 10:00 a.m. and then will take on Nevada at 12:30 p.m. Fans unable to make it out for the games can find a link for live stats at www.gculopes.com.
GCU 9, Southern Utah 4
GCU 7, Nevada 6
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nowlin, Taylor (1-3)
L: Theurer (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Barak, Kelsey 1 ; Regester, Lauren 1 ; Smith, Stephanie 1
RBI: Walker, Haley 1 ; Wartman, Camree 1 ; Barak, Kelsey 3 ; Henry, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Haley 1 ; Wartman, Camree 1 ; Barak, Kelsey 1 ; Regester, Lauren 1 ; Riley, Rhyeca 1 ; Smith, Stephanie 1 ; Zampini, Claire 1 ; Henry, Kayla 2
SB: Zampini, Claire 1 ; Henry, Kayla 1
CS: Newbury, Nicole 1
Batting:
HR: Wolf 1 ; Resley 1
RBI: Wolf 2 ; Resley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Wolf 1 ; Henderson 1 ; Resley 1 ; Hales 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
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