Lopes Take Two From Utah Valley to Open Weekend

Friday, April 11

Orem, UT

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

20-17, 5-2

Utah Valley

12-24, 4-3

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

Kelsey Barak finished with four hits and six RBI on Friday.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

4/11/2014 3:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU will go for the series sweep tomorrow in Orem, Utah

After taking two of three Western Athletic Conference (WAC) games from Bakersfield last weekend, the Grand Canyon University (21-17, 6-2 WAC) softball team opened its three-game series in Orem, Utah with a pair of 8-3 wins over Utah Valley (12-25, 4-4 WAC) on Friday at Wolverine Field.

"I was very pleased with our performance today and it was good to get great run support for our pitchers today," said head coach Ann Pierson.

Game One
Grand Canyon didn't waste any time getting on the board, striking three times in the top of the first to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. Back-to-back infield singles from Haley Walker and Kayla Henry set the table for Kelsey Barak, who smacked an RBI double to left-center, scoring Walker and advancing Henry to third. Lauren Regester and Nicole Newbury then each recorded a sacrifice fly in consecutive at-bats, plating Henry and Barak.

The Lopes duplicated their first inning performance in the top the second, pushing three more runs across to extend the lead to 6-0. After reaching on an infield single to open the frame, Stephanie Pesqueira scored on a Henry sacrifice fly for the inning's first run. With two outs and runners on second and third, Barak recorded her second and third RBI of the game, driving a two-run single to right field, scoring Claire Zampini and Walker.

Canyon picked up another run in the third after Newbury led off the inning with a double to left-center and then Camree Wartman followed with a two-bagger of her own, scoring Newbury and giving the Lopes a 7-0 lead.

Utah Valley cut into the deficit with a three-run home run in the home half of the fifth to make the score 7-3.

GCU tacked on another run in the top of the sixth when Zampini crossed the plate on a Wolverine throwing error, to put the score at 8-3. Zampini previously reached on a bunt single earlier in the frame.

Pesqueira—who became Grand Canyon's all-time leader in career wins with her two victories last weekend in Bakersfield—picked up her conference-leading 11^th win in the circle in game one. The senior right-hander struck out eight, scattered five hits, and allowed three runs in seven innings of action.

"Peski threw great today and the defense played very solid behind her," added Pierson. "Our pitchers are attacking the zone, knowing they have a strong defense behind them."

Barak, Zampini, and Henry all finished with a pair of hits at the dish in game one.

Game Two
A Utah Valley solo home run in the bottom of the second put the Wolverines up 1-0.

After Grand Canyon poured on the runs in the first two innings of game one, the Lopes were held in check until the top of the third when they scored twice, putting GCU on top, 2-1. Kelsey Barak continued to be an RBI machine in game two, driving in Annie Jordan and Claire Zampini on a double to right field. Jordan and Zampini had reached earlier in the frame on a walk and bunt single, respectively.

Kayla Henry tripled for Canyon to open the fifth and then scored on Kelsey Barak's fielder's choice to give the Lopes a 3-1 lead.

The Lopes managed to scratch across another run in the sixth on a Haley Walker RBI single, scoring Kailey Regester, making the score 4-1.

The Wolverines cut into the Grand Canyon lead in the bottom of the sixth; scoring twice before Kiki Sepulveda came into the game in relief of starter Taylor Nowlin.

Grand Canyon's offense exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to push the lead to 8-3. Lauren Regester doubled in Kelsey Barak for the first run of the inning. Pinch-runner Jenna Coates scored on a Kailey Regester sacrifice fly, Nicole Newbury crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and pinch-runner Rhyeca Riley came around to touch home on a Claire Zampini RBI single to round out the scoring in the top of the seventh, making the score 8-3.

Sepulveda picked up the save in relief, as the senior looked very sharp, throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball, striking out two and not allowing a hit.

Nowlin was credited with the win in the circle, hurling 5.1 innings, giving up three runs, and striking out three Wolverine batters. With the victory, Nowlin evens her 2014 record in the circle at 4-4.

Newbury, Walker, Barak, and Zampini all collected two hits in Friday's second game. Barak and Zampini both finished the day with four hits and Barak drove in six runs.

"We have to get a win tomorrow and close out the series with a sweep," concluded Pierson. "It is important we bring a solid effort both offensively and defensively tomorrow."

The Lopes will conclude the weekend series in Orem, Utah with an 11 a.m. (Arizona Time) contest Saturday. Fans can follow all of the action from Wolverine Field via links for live video and live stats at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 8, UVU 3
GCU 8, UVU 3