Lopes drop finale with UMKC

Saturday, April 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

26-12, 0

UMKC

10-17, 0

UMKC

Grand Canyon

4/2/2016 9:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX - In a 7-5 extra-inning decision, the Grand Canyon softball team dropped the series finale to Missouri-Kansas City Saturday night. In a gritty contest that went into the eighth inning, the Lopes took the early lead in the first off a Nicole Newbury homer, but the 'Roos garnered a grand slam to go on top. Although a three-run homer by Shea Smith kept GCU's hopes alive, it wasn't able to starve off the UMKC offensive pressure.

The Lopes fall to 26-12 on the year and are now 1-2 in conference play. Although, GCU outhit UMKC for the second-straight game, the Lopes struggled to plate runs and left nine batters on base.

GCU started on a high note when Newbury smashed the ball over the right field fence in the first inning and put the Lopes up 1-0.

In the third, the Lopes found themselves in a bases loaded jam with a tie score. Although Camree Wartman picked off the first batter advancing to home, the 'Roos hit a grand slam to go up 5-1. The Lopes didn't answer on offense until the fifth.

To open the fifth, Shea Smith reached first on a hit through the middle, Wartman followed with a beautiful bunt to snag first and move Smith ahead. With a two-out RBI single, Sierra Smith put the Lopes within three. With runners on the corners, Brittany Medina drew a walk to load the bases. But a ground out to third ended the inning leaving the score 5-2 UMKC.

GCU took care of business in the sixth, with a quick three outs and got back in the dugout on offense. To open the sixth for the Lopes, Jenna Coates drew the leadoff walk, Laynee Gomez then got on base off a 'Roo error. Hill then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both Coates and Gomez. But Shea Smith blasted the ball out of the stadium for a three-run homer to tie up the contest 5-5.

GCU gave up nothing in the seventh and shut down UMKC swiftly with a ground out to first followed by a Sierra Smith, Wartman, Newbury double play to go back on offense. But, the Lopes couldn't muster enough to drive the game winning run across the plate and with one left on base closed out the inning with the score still knotted at five apiece.

To start the eighth, the 'Roos came out swinging, collecting back-to-back outfield hits that plated two to snatch the lead back in their favor. While the Lopes were looking to mount a game winning rally, they were weighed down by offensive struggles and went three up, three down and suffered the series loss at 7-5.

Both Shea Smith and Nicole Newbury put in work at the plate. Smith went 2-for-5 with two runs, three RBI and a three-run home run. Newbury was also 2-for-5 with one run, one RBI and one home run.

Kailey Register took the loss for Grand Canyon, falling to 7-4 on the season.

Lopes Quotes:
Ann Pierson
"This has been a disappointing weekend and not what I expected. Our non-conference strength of schedule was purposefully tough to get us ready for the WAC. We were inconsistent on defense and that's something we have to shore up this week. I would have liked to have made adjustments at the plate more quickly, but felt like we scored enough runs to win three games."

"UMKC came out aggressive, which was what we expected and they played cleaner than we did. This is only a problem if we don't learn from it and I'm expecting a great week of practice and preparation as we head up to Seattle."

Up Next: The Lopes hit the road for the team's first conference road trip to Seattle, Washington. The Lopes face off against Seattle University Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9. For the doubleheader matchup Friday, first pitch is set for 4 p.m. MST and 6:30. In the series finale, the Lopes play ball at 2.