GCU hosts New Mexico State in final home series, will honor senior Lopes

Friday, April 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

8:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

New Mexico State

Photo by: Darryl Webb

GCU hosts New Mexico State in final home series, will honor senior Lopes

4/14/2016 4:38:00 PM | Softball

By: Imani Suber

GCU vs. New Mexico State
April 15-16 || Phoenix, Ariz. || Stapelton-Pierson Stadium

Live stats |

WAC Digital Network - Live Stream | @GCUSoftball

PHOENIX - The GCU softball team returns home for its final home series of the 2016 season as they play host to New Mexico State University. The Lopes will look to continue their winning ways and take care of business in their last three home games of the year. Saturday's contest will be preceded by the GCU Senior Day ceremony as Nicole Newbury and Kailey Regester will be honored on the last home game of their collegiate careers.

Live stream will be available for all three games. Game 1 (6.00 p.m.): WAC Digital Network. Game 2 (8:30 p.m.) & 3 (6:00 p.m.) GCU live stream.

A Glance Back
The Lopes captured their first WAC series of the season, going 2-1 at Seattle last weekend and improved to 28-13 and 3-3 in WAC play. GCU combined for 19 runs on 33 hits with four doubles, a triple and two home runs over three games. In Game 2 and 3, the Lopes beat the Redhawks by the scores of 8-0 (6 innings) and 9-3, respectively. GCU picked up their 10th run-rule victory of the season in their 8-0 defeat of Seattle U on Friday night.

In the circle for the Lopes, Kailey Regester (8-4) earned her first Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honor of the season, marking her third-career honor. In two appearances, the senior tossed 7.0 innings, allowing seven hits and one run with five strikeouts. In her start in Game 2 against the Redhawks, Regester earned the victory, throwing 6.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

At the plate, Camree Wartman was 6-for-10 with a triple, one home run and eight RBI. In Game 3 against the Redhawks, Warman went 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. The junior currently leads all Lopes with 60 hits on the season, good for a team-high .429 batting average. Wartman also leads GCU in runs (42) and doubles (15).

Sizing Up the Opponents

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The Aggies (26-18, 6-0 WAC) are 6-2 in the last eight games, defeating the Utah Valley Wolverines in a three-game sweep last weekend. Currently in first place in the Western Athletic Conference, the Aggies rank first in the conference for team fielding (.959). Ranking second in the WAC to only the Lopes, New Mexico State is hitting .343 as a team and have a team 3.19 ERA.

Leading the Aggies at the plate, Rachel Rodriguez is hitting .381 (53-for-139), ranking fourth in the WAC for batting average and hits. The sophomore adds three doubles and a WAC-leading four triples. Also hitting well for New Mexico State, Kelsey Horton is batting .378 (51-for-135), ranking fifth in the WAC for batting average and hits. The freshman ranks first in the WAC for home runs (11), RBI (39), slugging percentage (.711) and total bases (96). Horton earned WAC Hitter of the Week honors for Feb. 15-21. After hitting .400 in six games, the freshman went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a grand slam in the Aggies 8-0 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 21.

In the circle for the Aggies, Karysta Donisthorpe (8-8) owns a 2.68 ERA, ranking second in the WAC to Lopes Taylor Nowlin (2.12). With a WAC-leading 23 starts, the senior ranks second in opposing batting average (.238) and strikeouts (93). Donisthorpe earned WAC Pitcher of the Week honor for Feb. 8-14 after going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances. Limiting opponents to a .163 batter average, the senior yielded one unearned run with 16 strikeouts and no walks in 11.0 innings.

Facing New Mexico State
Since 2014, Grand Canyon is 3-3 in six games against New Mexico State. At home, the Lopes were 3-0 in 2014 against the Aggies. Outscoring the Aggies 12-3 in three games in 2014, the Lopes will look to sweep the Aggies for the second time and extend the all-time record this weekend at home.

With a 27-23 overall record in 2015, the Lopes went 9-6 in the Western Athletic Conference, losing three games at New Mexico State. Outscored 28-14 by the Aggies in the series, the Lopes lost its closest game in Game 1 by the score of 7-6. During the series, former Lope Haley Walker went 5-for-9 with a double, a homer and three runs scored. During the series, the Lopes pitching could not contain the Aggies offensive force, allowing 28 runs. Taylor Nowlin was the Lopes best pitcher of the series, going 0-1, tossing 7.0 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Celebrating the Senior Lopes
The Grand Canyon softball program will honor seniors Nicole Newbury and Kailey Regester Saturday night for their last home game of their collegiate careers.
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Nicole Newbury – In her final season with the Lopes, Newbury ranks third on the team for hitting with a .387 (55-for-142) batting average. The senior adds seven doubles, 20 RBI and 32 runs scored. Newbury has hit safely in five straight games, going 9-for-17 with a homer and four runs. In her senior campaign, Newbury also ranks third in the WAC for batting average, only behind teammates Camree Wartman (.429) and Shea Smith (.390). In the GCU record books, the four-year starter ranks in the all-time top 10 for hits (203), runs scored (115), doubles (26), walks (52), games played (189) and at bats (592).

"Newbie is one of the most selfless players to wear the GCU uniform," Head Coach Ann Pearson said. "She's the type of person you want to be around every day and she has made the GCU softball program better in every way."

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Kailey Regester – As a senior, Regester owns an 8-4 record in 18 appearances and 11 starts. With five complete games and one shutout, the senior yields a 4.12 ERA (41 ER in 69.2 IP) with 34 strikeouts. In her last start, Regester picked up the win in the 8-0 victory over Seattle U on April 8. Earning her eighth victory of the season, she tossed 6.0 scoreless innings on five hits with four strikeouts. In the GCU record books, the senior ranks in the all-time top 10 for ERA (4.10), strikeouts (132), wins (29), games started (49), appearances (73) and innings pitched (280).

"Understanding that the college level is much different, she made the commitment to focus on her pitching only," Coach Ann Pearson said. "She has a competitive drive and loves to win. That spark has brought her to a successful senior season."

WAC-tastic Antelopes
GCU claimed its first WAC series of the season Saturday at Seattle University with they defeated the Redhawks 9-3. Now at 3-3 in the WAC, GCU continues to command the leader boards in the Western Athletic Conference in hits (414), doubles (78), hits per game (10.10), runs scored (267), sacrifice bunts (34) and in RBI (241). The Lopes remain a top the conference in batting average (.354). In the circle, GCU leads the conference in both batters struck out (186), opposing batting average (.252), strikeouts per game (4.94) and wins (28).

Individually, GCU's Shea Smith, Sierra Smith, Taylor Nowlin, Camree Wartman and Nicole Newbury are among the current slate of category leaders in the conference to date. In WAC batting average, Wartman (.429), Shea Smith (.390) and Newbury (.387) are back a top the conference and occupy the top three spots. In the doubles category, Wartman (15), Shea Smith (13) and Kendsey Hill (12) now dominate the top three standings. Wartman continues to lead the conference in runs scored (42), runs per game (1.02) and hits (54). Newbury continues to lead the category with .12 strikeouts per game through 142 at bats. Sierra Smith remains tied for first with four triples on the season. In the slugging percentage categories four Lopes sit in the top 10 (Camree Wartman, Shea Smith, Sierra Smith, Kendsey Hill). Shea Smith also leads the WAC with the longest hit streak for her 14-game stint (Feb. 12 to Feb. 26) achieved earlier this season. In the hits category, Wartman (60), Shea Smith (55) and Newbury (55) continue to occupy the top three spots in hits category.

In the circle, Nowlin currently leads the WAC in six different categories. She continues to dominate the strikeout category (111) with a comfortable 18-strikeout lead. She also leads in opposing batting average (.192), ERA (2.12), wins (14) and is tied for first with three saves. Nowlin also has a WAC leading 125.1 innings pitched. Kailey Regester is tied for third with eight wins, while Bailey Bergman is now No. 8 in ERA (3.79).

Offensive Confidence

The Lopes offense has been on fire since Day 1. GCU sits among the nation's elite in batting average, doubles, doubles per game, win percentage, runs scored and slugging percentage. The Lopes' bats have become an offensive juggernaut with top-25 positions in slugging percentage (.517), scoring (6.51) and moved into the fifth spot in batting average (.354) among their Division I counterparts. GCU now sits in the No. 2 spot with 414 hits behind No. 10 Georgia. The Lopes continue to occupy the second spot with 78 doubles and are fourth with 1.95 doubles per game. At 28-13, GCU is currently among the Top 50 in win percentage (.683) and currently occupy the No. 41 spot nationwide.

RBI on Watch

The Lopes fell to No. 53 in the Ratings Percentage Index released Monday, April 11 by the NCAA. After picking up their first conference series victory aganst Seattle U, GCU has secured 28 victories to date. This season, they've had the best RPI rankings by far in program history. GCU debuted at No.45 on opening week of the RPI standings. In Week 7, the Lopes rose three places to No. 43 after sweeping Loyola Marymount. Their quality opponents have been a significant factor in how it matches up on the national scale. GCU has faced four ranked opponents this season and a total of six from the power five conferences.

Batting Bliss

Shea Smith, Camree Wartman and Nicole Newbury have been in batter's bliss this season. With batting averages of .429, .390 and .387 these Lopes continue to wow at the plate. These offensive juggernauts have landed among the country's top tier talent in their respective categories. Wartman now sits among the top 50 nationwide in batting average and is now tied at No. 46 with a .429. With 60 hits she sits in the top 10, while Shea Smith and Newbury share 55 hits a piece that land them in the top 25. After hitting .600 for the second-straight week, Wartman now leads the team with a .429 batting average. She maintains the team lead with 15 doubles and also leads the slugging percentage category (.671). In the team's series against Seattle U, Wartman hit .600 (6-of-10) with two runs scored, one triple, one home run and eight RBI. She played a key part in the Lopes first series win, with a three run triple and two run homer on the weekend. She also garnered a 1.100 slugging percentage. Wartman currently boasts a six-game hit streak and has collected hits in all WAC conference games thus far.

Newbury had a fantastic weekend in Seattle. On the weekend, she hit .583 and was 7-for-12. She had a perfect outing against the Redhawks in Game 2 Friday and went 4-for-4. She produced a .583 slugging percentage and had zero strikeouts on the weekend. She has posted hits in five of the six conference contests thus far and currently boasts a five game hit streak. In WAC play, she is 10-for-25 with four runs, one home run and a .520 slugging percentage.

Nowlin Keeps Rollin'
Taylor Nowlin has been in a class of her own. Nowlin is now 14-4 and has continued to shut down opponents in the circle. Last weekend in Seattle, Nowlin collected her 14th win and finished the weekend with a 1.14 ERA, allowing nine hits with two ER through 12.1 innings pitched. She held the Redhawks to a .259 batting average. On the year, she has put in work through 125.1 innings pitched with a 2.12 ERA from 28 earned runs. She has held her opponents to a .192 batting average and now has 111 strikeouts on the season.

Nowlin Becomes GCU All-Time Strikeout Leader
Junior Taylor Nowlin has now surpassed the GCU all-time strikeout record. Nowlin achieved the feat against Saint Francis, Wednesday, March 2 when she tossed nine strikeouts on the day to claim the record, previously held by Stephanie Pesqueira. The junior has now amassed 281 career strikeouts with 111 strikeouts on the season thus far.

First-Inning Fire
The Lopes have made runs rain in the first inning this season. With a combined .425 batting average in the opening frame which includes 79 runs and 93 hits and a solid slugging percentage of .644, GCU has seen its best productivity early in contests. In the first inning, the Lopes have outscored opponents 80-31. GCU is 21-5 in scoring in the opening frame and is 19-3 after leading in the first. In the hits category, the Lopes have out-hit opponents 24-7. On the year, GCU has also run-ruled 10 opponents.

Through 41 games this season, the Lopes have outscored their opponents 267 to 158. GCU's largest margin of victory was 18 runs, with one 10-run victory, one nine-run win and eight victories by eight runs. The Lopes have also amassed eight shutouts.

Young Guns

The freshmen Lopes have been phenomenal at the plate this year. On the year, they have been responsible for 50 percent of the team's 32 home runs to date. With 16 home runs between the young talent, they have amassed nine home runs with one or more on base, with five three-run home runs, four two-run homers and two grand slams. On the season, the freshmen have combined for 111 runs from 160 hits with 107 RBI and 23 doubles with three with slugging percentages above .500. Shea Smith, Sierra Smith and Taylor Kaye account for seven of the eight triples on the team. Both Sierra Smith and Madelyn Dowdle are tied for first on the squad with five homers a piece.

Both Shea Smith and Dowdle have been perfect at the plate in multiple contests. Dowdle was perfect in two contests against DePaul (3-of-3) and UNLV (4-of-4) and became the first Lope this season to produce two perfect outings during the same weekend during the Easton Tourney in Fullerton, Calif. Smith also had a perfect day at the plate against Arkansas while in Fullerton. She was perfect from the field in the team's victory over UNLV (4-of-4) for the second time this season. She collected her first perfect outing in Week 1 against UMBC (2-of-2).

WAC Player of the Week honors
The Lopes have garnered six WAC Player-of-the-Week accolades this season. Most recently, Kailey Regester was rewarded for her performance in Week 9 of play. She finished the series against Seattle U with a 1.0 ERA and pitched her first shut out the season. Throughout March GCU had four consecutive weeks with either a conference hitter- or pitcher-of-the-week honor, On the pitching end, Taylor Nowlin has been awarded twice and Bailey Bergman earned her first-career in Week 4. On the hitting side, Shea Smith and Brittany Medina have taken home the award for their performances at the plate.