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, April 18
GCU
5 p.m.
Grand Canyon
23-17, 8-2
7
vs
1
New Mexico State
26-17, 8-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
New Mexico State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
2
Grand Canyon
1
2
0
0
3
1
X
7
12
0
Stephanie Pesqueira picked up her conference-leading 12th win on Friday.
Photo by: Theon Carrier
Lopes Win Twice Over New Mexico State to Take WAC Lead
4/18/2014 10:30:00 PM | Softball
Pesqueira, Nowlin lead GCU with dominating pitching performances
After entering the weekend a game behind New Mexico State (26-18, 8-3 WAC) in Western Athletic Conference play, the Grand Canyon University (24-17, 9-2 WAC) softball team moved into first place after taking two games from the visiting Aggies on Friday night. The Antelopes used dominant starting pitching to pick up 7-1 and 2-0 wins in the weekend opener at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. Grand Canyon will ride a season-high six-game winning streak into Saturday's series finale.
"Peski and Taylor threw their best games all year," said head coach Ann Pierson. "They pounded the zone and kept them off balance and the defense was solid and made the plays we needed to win."
"Our offense was great in game one and we maintained a committed approach at the plate," included Pierson. "In game two we stuck with our plan and put together some great at-bats."
Game One
Stephanie Pesqueira threw a complete game four-hitter, allowing just one run and striking out six on her way to picking up her league-leading 12th win of the year in the circle.
Grand Canyon got on the board in the home half of the first, as Lauren Regester connected on an RBI single to left, scoring Kayla Henry, who had reached on an infield single earlier in the frame.
The Lopes pushed their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring twice. Claire Zampini used her speed to beat out a throw from the New Mexico State shortstop and later came around to score on a Henry RBI single. Haley Walker, who had doubled previously in the frame, scored on a Kelsey Barak RBI single to put GCU on top 3-0.
Barak laced a double down the left-field line and then was knocked in by a Nicole Newbury two-bagger for Canyon's fourth run in the bottom of the fifth. Camree Wartman then stepped in the box and smashed a two-run home run to right-center to give the Lopes a 6-0 lead. The round-tripper marked the fourth of the year for the freshman infielder.
Walker singled in the sixth and scored on a Lauren Regester sacrifice fly to extend GCU's lead to 7-0 heading into the top of the seventh. The Aggies managed to push across a run in the seventh, but that was it, as Pesqueira shut the door making the final 7-1 in favor of Grand Canyon.
Henry finished game one 3-for-4 at the dish to lead the charge for the Lopes and Walker, Barak, and Newbury all tallied a pair of hits.
Game Two
Taylor Nowlin followed up Pesqueira's gem with a complete game three-hitter, blanking the Aggies and matching Pesqueira with six strikeouts.
After filling up the stat sheet with 12 hits in Friday's opener, the Lopes were held scoreless until the fourth when they plated a pair of runs. Kayla Henry opened the frame with a triple, sailing a pitch over the left fielder's head. Kelsey Barak drove Henry in with an RBI single to give Canyon the 1-0 lead. Barak eventually came around to touch home on a Nicole Newbury sacrifice fly to push the lead to 2-0.
Nowlin capped off her stellar performance with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the seventh to halt New Mexico State's rally attempt.
Nowlin and Pesqueira combined to allow just seven hits and one run in Friday's doubleheader.
"I thought AJ (Annie Jordan) did a great job behind the plate in both games, really controlling the pace and tempo tonight," added Pierson.
"Tomorrow we need to bring the same energy, effort, and focus to put together another great game against this tough New Mexico State team," concluded Pierson.
The Lopes will go for the series sweep and look to cushion their conference lead to two games tomorrow when the two teams meet in the series finale. Saturday marks the final home game of the 2014 season and GCU's five seniors will be honored prior to first pitch, which is slated for 1 p.m. Fans unable to make it out to Stapleton-Pierson Stadium can find a link for live stats at www.gculopes.com.
GCU 7, New Mexico State 1
GCU 2, New Mexico State 0
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"Peski and Taylor threw their best games all year," said head coach Ann Pierson. "They pounded the zone and kept them off balance and the defense was solid and made the plays we needed to win."
"Our offense was great in game one and we maintained a committed approach at the plate," included Pierson. "In game two we stuck with our plan and put together some great at-bats."
Game One
Stephanie Pesqueira threw a complete game four-hitter, allowing just one run and striking out six on her way to picking up her league-leading 12th win of the year in the circle.
Grand Canyon got on the board in the home half of the first, as Lauren Regester connected on an RBI single to left, scoring Kayla Henry, who had reached on an infield single earlier in the frame.
The Lopes pushed their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring twice. Claire Zampini used her speed to beat out a throw from the New Mexico State shortstop and later came around to score on a Henry RBI single. Haley Walker, who had doubled previously in the frame, scored on a Kelsey Barak RBI single to put GCU on top 3-0.
Barak laced a double down the left-field line and then was knocked in by a Nicole Newbury two-bagger for Canyon's fourth run in the bottom of the fifth. Camree Wartman then stepped in the box and smashed a two-run home run to right-center to give the Lopes a 6-0 lead. The round-tripper marked the fourth of the year for the freshman infielder.
Walker singled in the sixth and scored on a Lauren Regester sacrifice fly to extend GCU's lead to 7-0 heading into the top of the seventh. The Aggies managed to push across a run in the seventh, but that was it, as Pesqueira shut the door making the final 7-1 in favor of Grand Canyon.
Henry finished game one 3-for-4 at the dish to lead the charge for the Lopes and Walker, Barak, and Newbury all tallied a pair of hits.
Game Two
Taylor Nowlin followed up Pesqueira's gem with a complete game three-hitter, blanking the Aggies and matching Pesqueira with six strikeouts.
After filling up the stat sheet with 12 hits in Friday's opener, the Lopes were held scoreless until the fourth when they plated a pair of runs. Kayla Henry opened the frame with a triple, sailing a pitch over the left fielder's head. Kelsey Barak drove Henry in with an RBI single to give Canyon the 1-0 lead. Barak eventually came around to touch home on a Nicole Newbury sacrifice fly to push the lead to 2-0.
Nowlin capped off her stellar performance with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the seventh to halt New Mexico State's rally attempt.
Nowlin and Pesqueira combined to allow just seven hits and one run in Friday's doubleheader.
"I thought AJ (Annie Jordan) did a great job behind the plate in both games, really controlling the pace and tempo tonight," added Pierson.
"Tomorrow we need to bring the same energy, effort, and focus to put together another great game against this tough New Mexico State team," concluded Pierson.
The Lopes will go for the series sweep and look to cushion their conference lead to two games tomorrow when the two teams meet in the series finale. Saturday marks the final home game of the 2014 season and GCU's five seniors will be honored prior to first pitch, which is slated for 1 p.m. Fans unable to make it out to Stapleton-Pierson Stadium can find a link for live stats at www.gculopes.com.
GCU 7, New Mexico State 1
GCU 2, New Mexico State 0
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pesqueira, Stephanie (12-7)
L: Donisthorpe (10-9)
Batting:
RBI: Ruiz, A 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dohrwardt, C 1
Batting:
2B: Walker, Haley 1 ; Henry, Kayla 1 ; Barak, Kelsey 1 ; Newbury, Nicole 1
HR: Wartman, Camree 1
RBI: Henry, Kayla 1 ; Barak, Kelsey 1 ; Regester, Lauren 2 ; Newbury, Nicole 1 ; Wartman, Camree 2
SF: Regester, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Haley 2 ; Henry, Kayla 1 ; Barak, Kelsey 1 ; Newbury, Nicole 1 ; Wartman, Camree 1 ; Zampini, Claire 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
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