Lopes sweep LMU in non-conference finale

Wednesday, March 23

Los Angeles, Calif.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

24-10

Loyola Marymount

21-13

Grand Canyon

Loyola Marymount

3/23/2016 12:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Grand Canyon softball team swept Loyola Marymount in a double-header contest Wednesday afternoon. The Lopes improve to 25-10 and wrapped up their non-conference schedule for the season.

GCU combined for 24 hits and 15 runs. They collected five doubles and two home runs on the day.

Brittany Medina was perfect at the plate going 5-for-5 with five RBI which included a two-run home run. In the circle, Taylor Nowlin (12-3) picked up a pair of wins through 7.3 innings tossed with nine strikeouts.

Game 1: The Lopes cruised to victory in Game 1 against LMU. In a 12-5 decision, GCU put up 17 hits, its second highest hit total of the year. They also collected five doubles and two home runs Wednesday afternoon.

In the opening frame, Camree Wartman blasted out the first hit of the day and advanced Nicole Newbury who occupied first as a result of a free base. Madelyn Dowdle smashed a ball to left center for an RBI double that plated Newbury and Wartman to put the Lopes up 2-0.

GCU kept the hits flowing as Briielle Breland lined the ball through the shortstop to garner a base and advance Dowdle to second. Laynee Gomez then collected her first hit of day and plated Dowdle to go up by three. The Lopes wouldn't let up and capitalized on a Lion error as Gomez crossed the plate on the LMU blunder and Breland snatched third. Brittany Medina then zinged the ball to the infield fence for the second double of the inning and collected the Lopes fifth run and fifth hit of the inning.

In the home half of the second inning, Shea Smith smashed the ball over the left field fence for her second homer of the season and garnered GCU's sixth run and seventh hit. Although, the Lopes gave up a home run, Nowlin struck out three straight to get out of the inning and get the offense back on the field with the score at 6-2.

To start the third inning, the Lopes quickly landed on base off back-to-backs hits from and Gomez. Medina then collected an RBI single and plated Breland to put the Lopes up 7-2.

LMU kept chipping away at the run total and put up runs in the fourth and fifth to come within two of tying the game.

After going scoreless for two-straight innings, Wartman produced a much needed hit to land on base in the top of the sixth. Breland garnered a base from a hit by pitch and Nikki Gonzalez reached first as a result of the Lions third error of the contest which scored Wartman in the process. Medina's bat heated up as she hit a bomb over the fence for a two-run home run to give the Lopes the advantage they needed at 11-5.

GCU piled on the pressure in the final frame with a beautiful single to first and then advanced to second off a Lion wild pitch. Sierra Smith then collected an RBI single to put the Lopes up 12-5 and solidified the victory.

Brittany Medina was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double and a home run for a total of 5 RBI.

Game 2: In a gritty defensive battle, the Lopes edged out the Lions 3-1 in a late inning rally and secured the victory with a double play. GCU garnered seven hits, three runs with two errors in the game. Brittany Medina continued her productivity at the plate going 2-for-2, while Nicole Newbury also had a successful day in the batter's box and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and eight putouts.

Although the Lions struck first with a run in the opening frame, GCU responded and put their first run on the board in the home half of the third. Medina lead-off the inning with a base hit and advanced to second off a beautiful sacrifice bunt laid down by Hill. Medina was able to advance to third on a wild pitch and cross the plate with the game tying run as Shea Smith singled to left field.

The contest remained deadlocked for three-straight innings, as the defenses on both sides put in work.

It came down to the final frame, where GCU's offense got the spark it needed to take over the game. Medina drew a walk and Hill laid down a bunt to reach first. Both pinch runner Kaye and Hill scooted over one base on a wild pitch and Newbury flew the ball out to left for a perfect RBI sacrifice fly to score Kaye and move Hill to third and go up 2-1. GCU then profited off another Lion error as Hill flew over the plate to put the lopes up 3-1.

LMU kept fighting and landed two on base to threaten. Although the Lions were in prime position to score on third, Wartman scooped up a ground ball and tossed it Shea Smith for the out at second as she threw a rocket to first for a double play to claim the victory, 3-1.

Lopes Quotes:
Ann Pierson
(on Game 1) "They understood that this LMU team was going to be a much different then what we saw in February when we faced them in our home tournament. We knew that we were going to see a much different team and they were ready to come in and gunning for us and compete. I was pleased with our defense. I was really pleased with our offensive production and always to jump on a team in the first inning. That can really set the tone for us and that's when we're are the best. So I was really happy with the run production."

(on Game 2) "We had some chances early and throughout the game to push some runs across and their pitcher just handled us. She was mixing her speeds and locations well and so it's just one of those game where we just had to keep grinding and just keep staying with our approach and our game plan and it was great to come up with a couple more runs late in the game and then Taylor (Nowlin) came in to close it out. It was a great way to end the non-conference season. I couldn't be happier with the kids and what they've done so far."

(on C Brittany Medina) "Britt has really taken advantage of the opportunities she's been given. She has worked tirelessly on her offensive side of the game and she continues to stay ready to go in the game and play defense. But I'm so pleased with her. She watches the game, she knows what the pitchers are throwing, she knows when they're throwing it, she's worked on her mechanics and now has become such a force at the plate and I really feel good about whatever the situation is. She put us on the board early and then put it away late for us with her home run and that was a line drive over the fence. I couldn't be more proud of Brittany and what she's doing to help our team win right now."

Up Next: The Lopes open up Western Athletic Conference play at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium against University of Missouri-Kansas City April 1-2, 2016. GCU and the Kangaroos will face off in a double header on Friday at 6:00 p.m. MST and 8:30. They will finish up the series Saturday at 6:00.