‘Lopes Rally to Top Santa Clara in Weekend Finale

Sunday, March 23

Santa Clara, CA

12:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-15

Santa Clara

4-19

Grand Canyon

Santa Clara

Lauren Regester went 3-for-4 at the plate Sunday.

3/23/2014 2:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU returns home to host first-ever WAC series next weekend

The Grand Canyon University softball team rallied in the top of the seventh with two runs to pick up its fourth win of the weekend Sunday, defeating Santa Clara (4-19), 3-2, in the final day of the Santa Clara Marriott Round Robin. The Antelopes even their record at 15-15 after closing out the weekend 4-1 in Santa Clara, Calif., and will return back to Phoenix next weekend to open the conference portion of their schedule.

"Peski threw great today and we played pretty solid defense behind her," said head coach Ann Pierson. "It was great to see the team not quit and keep battling to rally in the seventh."

Grand Canyon opened the scoring in the top of the second when Kylie Shull drove in Camree Wartman on an RBI single to right field to put the 'Lopes up 1-0.

Santa Clara took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring twice in the frame to go on top, 2-1.

Canyon answered with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead, 3-2. Stephanie Pesqueira led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a Claire Zampini infield single and then scored when Kayla Henry drove an RBI single to center field. Kelsey Barak stepped in the box and cracked a double to left field, scoring Zampini and putting the 'Lopes back on top, 3-2.

Pesqueira put the Broncos down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. The senior right-hander hurled all seven innings to pick up her seventh win of the season in the circle, striking out two and not issuing a walk.

Lauren Regester finished 3-for-4 at the dish and Pesqueira collected two hits in the mid-day tilt.

"The team is confident in where they are at heading into the conference schedule," concluded Pierson. "We are looking forward to having Kansas City come to town next weekend and get the conference season rolling."

The 'Lopes will return home to host their first-ever Western Athletic Conference (WAC) series next weekend at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium when Grand Canyon plays host to Kansas City for a three-game series beginning next Friday. The 'Roos and 'Lopes will play a twin bill on Friday evening before concluding the series with a mid-day showdown on Saturday. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2014 softball season at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 3, Santa Clara 2