Lopes Extend WAC Lead With Sweep of Aggies

Saturday, April 19

GCU

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

25-17, 10-2

New Mexico State

26-19, 8-4

New Mexico State

Grand Canyon

Kelsey Barak blasted her seventh HR of the season Saturday.

Photo by: Theon Carrier

4/19/2014 4:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU takes two-game WAC lead heading into final conference series

After dropping New Mexico State (26-19, 8-4 WAC) twice on Friday night, the Grand Canyon University (25-17, 10-2 WAC) softball team answered with a 3-2 senior day victory in the series finale. The Antelopes will ride a season-best seven-game winning streak into next weekend's final conference series.

Grand Canyon now holds a two-game lead over New Mexico State in the conference standings and can clinch the WAC regular season title with two wins next weekend in Seattle.

"I'm so incredibly proud of the girls for their energy, fight, and determination to compete and to win," said head coach Ann Pierson. "They played so hard for each other and understood what was at stake this weekend."

After a storied career for the Lopes, it was fitting that hurler Stephanie Pesqueira shined on senior day in her final game at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium. The right-hander surrendered just five hits and two runs to a New Mexico State team that leads the conference in several offensive statistical categories.

Kelsey Barak put Canyon on the board in the home half of the first, slugging a solo home run to center. The round-tripper marked the seventh of the season for the GCU shortstop and put the Lopes up 1-0.

The Aggies answered in the top of the second, striking with a pair of runs on a two-run home run to take the lead, 2-1.

Grand Canyon capitalized on two New Mexico State errors in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead, 3-2. A Kayla Henry groundout scored Pesqueira from third and Barak connected on an RBI single later in the frame to score Claire Zampini and put the Lopes back on top.

Nicole Newbury and Barak each tallied a pair of hits in three trips to the plate to lead the Canyon charge in the finale.

Pesqueira's win was number 13 on the year, the most by any pitcher in the conference. The Tempe native has not suffered a loss in her last 13 starts for GCU.

"Peski was unreal today, she was gritty and she competed," added Pierson. "She has done everything we have asked and expected and been so consistent all year long and during her entire career."

"We have three tough games up at Seattle next weekend and we will bring the same approach and work ethic this week to practice in preparation for the final conference series of the season," concluded Pierson.

Grand Canyon will travel to Seattle next weekend for a three-game weekend set with Seattle U. The Lopes and Redhawks will open up play with a doubleheader on Friday night, before concluding the season's final league series with a Saturday afternoon matinee. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2014 softball season at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 3, New Mexico State 2