Lopes make statement, shutout UNLV 8-0

Saturday, March 19

Fullerton, Calif.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

21-10

Oklahoma

19-6

Oklahoma

Grand Canyon

3/19/2016 9:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

FULLERTON, Calif. - The Grand Canyon softball team went 1-1 on Day 2 of the Easton Tournament. GCU dropped UNLV 8-0 in the second outing of the day and fell to No. 13 Oklahoma 7-1, Saturday afternoon. GCU now sits at 22-10 on the year.

The Lopes tallied 21 hits on the day, 16 of which came in their shutout victory against UNLV.

Madelyn Dowdle led the Lopes at the plate and was 4-of-7 with two runs and two RBI. Both Shea Smith and Dowdle went perfect against UNLV and tallied four hits through four at bats in the team's route of the Rebels.

In the circle, Taylor Nowlin threw a fantastic game allowing just one hit through 6.0 innings pitched. She produced five strikeouts through 19 batters faced. Nowlin improved to 9-2 on the year.

Game 1: Oklahoma
The Lopes fell 7-1 to No. 13 Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. GCU put up a fight and haulted the Sooner offense for three straight innings, but weren't able to drive enough across the plate to garner a victory.

In the opening frame, the Sooners put three runs on the board to start the contest. For three innings, the Lopes defense kept them in the game and held Oklahoma to four runs.

In the third, the GCU offense got the spark they needed when Shea Smith produced an RBI single to plate Laynee Gomez, who occupied third as a result of a Sooner error and a beautiful sacrifice bunt from Taylor Kaye.

The Lopes trailed Oklahoma by only three runs for three straight innings of the contest. But the Sooners offense was revived from a three-run home run to extend their lead to 7-1.

The Lopes did threaten with runners on base from the fifth on, but couldn't convert. GCU fought valiantly till the end, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Sooner pitching attack and suffered their 10th loss in a 7-1 outcome.

Shea Smith led at the plate and was 1-of-3, with the lone RBI of the contest. Camree Wartman was also 1-of-3 and tallied her second double of the weekend.

Game 2: UNLV
The Lopes made a statement against UNLV Saturday night. GCU combined for 16 hits and eight runs in the shutout victory. Taylor Nowlin had yet another impressive outing and was nearly perfect allowing just one hit through 6.0 innings tossed, with five strikeouts. The Lopes put up runs in five of the six innings on the night.

From first pitch, GCU's offense was on fire. The Lopes blasted the inning open with three consecutive hits. A two RBI triple by Sierra Smith drove Shea Smith and Nicole Newbury across the plate in the opening minutes of the inning. Dowdle was not far behind with a hard hit RBI single up the middle as she rolled to second as a result of an errant Rebel throw. Dowdle was plated on the following play to put the Lopes up by four.

GCU continued to pile on the runs and mounted their next offense attack in the third. For the second time, the Lopes opened the inning with back-to-back hits by Dowdle and Breland. While Gomez reached first on a fielders choice, Dowdle capitalized on the second UNLV error and snatched a run to put GCU up 5-0.

The Lopes never relented and added to their run count in four straight innings. GCU completely dismantled the Rebel offense with a smothering defensive strategy, and tallied 18 putouts on the night.

In the fifth, UNLV got the stop they needed to extend the contest and garnered their lone hit of the game in the top of the sixth. But GCU took care of business as Nikki Gonzalez smashed the ball down the right field line for a pinch-hitt RBI double. She drove in Sierra Smith for the game winning run to shut down the contest in the sixth inning with an 8-0 final outcome.

The Lopes were outstanding in the batters box. Both Shea Smith and Madelyn Dowdle put on a show at the plate and went 4-of-4 for a perfect night with two runs a piece. Sierra Smith collected her third triple of the season and was 2-of-4 with two runs and two RBI.

Up Next: The Lopes look to finish out the Easton Tournament on a high note as they meet Arkansas Sunday morning. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. MST.