Lopes run-rule opponents in Day 1 sweep

Friday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

10-3

Northern Illinois

4-3

Northern Illinois

Grand Canyon

2/26/2016 7:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX -The Grand Canyon softball team went 2-0 on Day 1 of the GCU Invitational. GCU defeated Northern Illinois 11-3 and 10-2 victory against Montana, both contests ending by run-rule, on Friday. The Lopes now sit at 11-3 on the season and totaled 21 runs from 23 hits on Day 1.

The Lopes garnered eight doubles on the day and outscored their opponents 21-5.

GAME 1: GCU claimed an 11-3, run-rule victory over Northern Illinois Friday afternoon. Senior Kailey Regester (5-2) earned the win by tossing 5.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs (two earned) and nine hits.

With an early 2-0 lead by NIU in the first inning, GCU responded by scoring three runs to claim a 3-2 lead. The Lopes controlled the rest of the game by scoring three runs in the third and four in the fourth inning, to go up 10-2. Heading into the fifth inning, the Lopes needed a hold to end the game in a run-rule outcome, but the Huskies responded by scoring their first run since the first inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Lopes piled on the pressure and put the game away as Shea Smith scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Sierra Smith led the Lopes at the plate, hitting 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Also putting on a show at the plate, Camree Wartman was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.

GAME 2: GCU forced its second run-rule victory of the day in a 10-2 decision over Montana Friday night. The Lopes recorded four doubles from nine hits against the Grizzlies.

GCU garnered an early 6-0 lead after two innings. In the bottom of the second, Laynee Gomez and Nikki Gonzalez started things off for the Lopes with consecutive infield singles to put two on. With a beautiful sacrifice bunt by Kendsey Hill to put two Lopes in scoring position, Shea Smith batted in one to take a 2-0 lead. The Lopes were not done scoring as Nicole Newbury brought in Wartman for an RBI, while Madelyn Dowdle's RBI single gave GCU a commanding 6-0 lead after just two innings.

In the bottom of the third, the Lopes would keep piling it on and scored two more runs after Newbury's two RBI single brought in Hill and Gomez who already occupied second and third.

Pitcher Bailey Bergman with a solid outing herself, escaped bases-loaded jams with an amazing diving catch from Sierra Smith at third to end a two-run inning for the Grizzlies and a deep-to-center fly ball ran down by centerfielder Gomez in the fourth to halt Montana's attack.

With the fifth up next, the Lopes needed one run to shut the game down. Shea Smith got things started for the Lopes by doubling to deep left field. A perfect bunt-single and stolen base by Newbury put two Lopes in scoring position before a walk was awarded to Wartman to load the bases. It was a sacrifice fly to deep-left that sent the winning run home for a Lopes 10-2 victory.

Lopes Quotes:
Head Coach Ann Pierson
"I was really happy with how they came out and attacked both opponents. Both teams, Montana and Northern Illinois have some kids that can really play, really good athletes. We were down early in the first game and it didn't even phase them. I was really proud of our offense to fight back and get those runs back right away. I was really proud of our defense for settling down and making the plays that needed to be made. Kailey Regester threw a good game and Bailey Bergman came in and did a really good job. I felt that she kept them off balance. Nicole Newbury was incredible the entire day and we just had runners all of the place. We had kids moving people, smart base running and we were taking extra bases when we needed."

Up Next:
The Lopes return to action Saturday for Day 2 of the GCU Invitational. On Saturday, GCU is slated to face Texas State at 2:30 p.m. and Northern Illinois at 5 p.m. MT. The Lopes will close out the GCU Invitational on Sunday against Montana at 11:30 a.m. MT.