Lopes regroup, take down DePaul 3-1

Friday, March 18

Fullerton, Calif.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

20-9

Alabama

24-4

Grand Canyon

Alabama

3/18/2016 6:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

FULLERTON, Calif. - The Grand Canyon softball team split Day 1 of the Easton Tournament as GCU fell to No. 6 Alabama 9-0, but defeated DePaul 3-1 in the second outing of the day. GCU now sits at 21-9 on the year.

Madelyn Dowdle led the Lopes at the plate and was 4-of-6 with one RBI. Both Kendsey Hill and Camree Wartman collected doubles on the day.

Game 1: Alabama
GCU fell 9-0 to No. 6 Alabama in five innings Friday morning. The Lopes suffered their first loss by run-rule of the season. Shea Smith, Madelyn Dowdle, Brittany Medina and Camree Wartman accounted for all four hits in the contest.

In the first, Shea Smith lead off with a solid base hit to right center. She quickly advanced to third as a result of a Newbury sacrifice bunt and a Wartman out, she threatened to score. But a pop up to second base by Sierra Smith closed out the inning.

In the bottom of the first, Alabama's offense caught fire and tallied five hits including back-to-back home runs to go up by five.

While the Lopes kept the Bama offense at bay for two consecutive innings, the Crimson Tide never relented and collected four runs off a grand slam in the fourth to go up 9-0.

In the fifth, Medina garnered a base hit, but GCU couldn't muster enough offense and fell to Alabama 9-0.

Game 2: DePaul
GCU claimed an 3-1 victory over DePaul Friday afternoon. Senior Kailey Regester (7-2) earned the win by tossing 5.0 innings pitched, allowing one run, while Taylor Nowlin garnered her third save of the season through 2.0 innings pitched.

With an early 1-0 lead by DePaul in the first inning, GCU's offense got going in the fifth with a Hill double followed by a an RBI single by Sierra Smith to drive in the game tying run. The Lopes kept the offense clicking with a Dowdle RBI single to go up by one.

GCU kept the hits rolling with a pair from Hill and Laynee Gomez to start out the inning. Off Hill's hit to right center, Gomez quickly advanced to third and threatened. Shea Smith smashed a ball through the shortstop to score Gomez putting the Lopes up by two.

While the Blue Demons threatened in the sixth with two hits, GCU took care of business in the final two frames and claimed its 21st victory of the season.

Dowdle lead at the plate and was 3-of-3 with one RBI. Kendsey Hill was also productive and was 2-of-3 with a double. Shea and Sierra Smith collected a pair of RBI to help the Lopes edge out DePaul.

Lopes Quotes:
Ann Pierson
"It was a good finish to a tough day," Pierson said. "I was really pleased with our approach for the first game. The kids were focused but loose. Then the game got out of hand in a hurry and we were not able to muster much of a threat with our offense."

"We were able to regroup and come back against DePaul. Kailey threw a great game. She was able to hit spots and throw outs," Pierson elaborated. "She also prevented DePaul from stringing hits together. Our defense was clean and that approach on defense gave our bats a chance to get going. Maddie had a great game and we were able to hit instructions to be successful. We're excited to get back at it tomorrow with two more really big challenges."

Up Next: GCU takes on No. 13 Oklahoma and UNLV in Day 2 of the Easton Tourney. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and 6 p.m MST.