Lopes rally late, fall in 10-6 decision to NIU

Saturday, February 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Texas State

2/27/2016 9:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon softball team split Day 2 of the GCU Invitational. GCU defeated Texas State 10-0 and fell to Northern Illinois 10-6.

The Lopes garnered 16 runs from 23 hits and notched three home runs. Now at 12-4, GCU suffered its first home loss this season.

GAME 1: GCU forced a 10-3, run-rule victory over Texas State Saturday afternoon. Junior Taylor Nowlin (4-1) pitched a gem, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings, yielding three hits with five strikeouts.

GCU got off to an early 5-0 lead over the Bobcats in the first inning. Nicole Newbury got things started for the Lopes with a beautiful bunt single to precede a two-run home run by Camree Wartman. The Lopes kept swinging in the home-half of the first inning as a Briielle Breland walk followed by a Madelyn Dowdle single set things up for a three-run blast by Sierra Smith.

In the bottom of the second, the Lopes poured it on the Bobcats, adding five runs to their lead. After a couple errors on Texas State and another beautiful bunt by Newbury, the bases were loaded. Breland followed with a single to center to score the first two runs of the inning. Dowdle followed with three-run homer to put the Lopes up, 10-0.

Dowdle led the Lopes at the plate, hitting 2-for-2 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Also batting well, Wartman went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored and Sierra Smith was 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.

GAME 2: In a game that came down to the final inning, GCU rallied from six behind to tie the game, but could not overtake the Huskies offensive stand. The Lopes suffered their first home loss of the season in a 10-6 outcome Saturday night.

The Huskies got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Lopes responded by cutting the Huskies lead in half. Dowdle got things started for the Lopes as a hard-hit single to center field brought in Newbury for GCU's first score of the game. Following a walk by Sierra Smith to load the bases, Nikki Gonzalez drew a walk to bring in a Lope to cut the Huskies' lead to 4-2.

In the third inning, the Lopes threatened the Huskies' lead once again. After a couple singles by Dowdle and Gomez put two runners on for the Lopes, Kendsey Hill singled to left center to cut the Huskies lead to 4-3.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Lopes evened the score 4-4 off a Dowdle single to right field that brought in Breland. With a dead-lock heading into the sixth, Taylor Nowlin escaped out of the inning with bases loaded to keep the score even, 4-4.

It would come down to the seventh inning, when the Huskies produced six runs from six hits to claim a 10-4 lead.

To open the final frame, Dowdle doubled to center field. Sierra Smith drove her across the plate off of a single to place the Lopes within five. Pinch hitter Bianca Boling, blasted a laser through center field to score Sierra Smith and put GCU within four.

Off a pair of hits from Shea Smith and Hill with Gonzalez occupying a base from a fielder's choice, Newbury stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. With a last minute pitching change by NIU, Newbury popped up to first base and NIU sealed the final outcome at 10-6.

Up Next:
The Lopes return to action Sunday in the GCU Invitational finale against Montana. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m. MT.