Lopes overcome six-run deficit in late inning rally, take series

Friday, April 22

Orem, Utah

11:00 a.m.

Grand Canyon

30-15, 5-5

Utah Valley

6-34, 2-8

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

Lopes overcome six-run deficit in late inning rally, take series

4/22/2016 7:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

OREM, Utah - The Grand Canyon softball team swept Utah Valley and claimed the series. They shutout the Wolverines 4-0 in Game 1 and stole Game 2 in a 10-6 decision after coming back from a 6-1 deficit where they put up six runs in the sixth inning. The Lopes improve to 31-15 on the year and are now 6-5 in Western Athletic Conference play.

Taylor Nowlin (16-5) wowed in the circle and tossed 11 strikeouts through 9.0 innings pitched. She allowed seven hits and zero runs on the day through 37 batters faced.

Game 1: GCU took Game 1 of the series in a 4-0 outcome. They collected their ninth shutout of the season with the victory. Taylor Nowlin was the story of the game putting in work in the circle with nine strikeouts. She allowed just five hits and no runs through 7.0 innings tossed.

In a defensive contest, the Lopes went scoreless through the first two innings. The defense held it's own and kept Utah Valley from gaining offensive momentum. In the top of the third, GCU got a couple on base after back-to-back walks. With Laynee Gomez and Madelyn Dowdle on base, Kendsey Hill laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt for the first out to put the Lopes in scoring position. A pair of Wolverine miscues allowed Gomez to score on a passed ball and Dowdle to plate off a errant throw by the catcher to give the Lopes the 2-0 advantage.

In the fourth, the Lopes continued to capitalize on Wolverine missteps after Camree Wartman drew a walk and Brittany Medina reached first on an error. Breland then hit a bomb to right center good for an RBI double and scored Wartman. Heaven Acquart who pinch ran for Medina was thrown out on her advance to third. Breland threatened on third after reaching on a wild pitch and with only one out in the inning, GCU kept at it. Sierra Smith reached first from a fielders choice and Breland sprinted safely to home and capitalized on another Utah Valley throwing error to go up 4-0.

In the circle, Nowlin continued to keep the Wolverines on their toes striking out five through four straight innings, including all three batters in the second. She registered nine strikeouts in 5.0 out of 7.0 innings. In the fourth and fifth ,she had back-to-back innings with at least two strikeouts.

In the final frame, Nowlin continued to lead the defense and while Utah Valley garnered a base hit, a pop up followed by Nowlin's ninth strikeout and a fly out to Dowdle ended the game in a 4-0 outcome.

Game 2: After trailing for five straight innings, GCU mounted a late game rally to overcome a 6-1 deficit by putting up six runs in the sixth inning and ultimately claimed the game in a 10-6 decision. The Lopes separated themselves in the seventh after plating three more. GCU produced nine of their 10 runs in the final two frames. Taylor Nowlin picked up her fourth save of the season after coming in relief and shutting down the Wolverine offense. Through 2.0 innings she allowed just two hits and zero runs with a strikeout in the final inning. The Lopes registered their 22nd contest with 10 or more hits in a game. It is also GCU's fifth game with 10 or more hits in WAC play.

The Wolverines came out aggressive in Game 2. They collected four runs off four hits in the first two innings. In the fourth, a double by Dowdle put both her and Gomez in scoring position. Hill then sacrificed herself to score Gomez and GCU shaved the run total to three with a 4-1 score.

While things seemed to be unraveling for the Lopes when Utah Valley plated two more in the fifth to go up 6-1, the Lopes mounted a momentous rally in the sixth. Breland drew a walk and advanced to second off an illegal pitch. Sierra Smith also garnered a free base and Gomez raced to first outrunning her own bunt for a base hit. Dowdle reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third off a throwing error. On the same errant play both Breland and Sierra Smith scored to shave the lead to 6-3. While Hill and Shea Smith grounded out, Newbury came up big with a two RBI double to improve the score to 6-5 with two outs on the board. Wartman then came in and lined the ball to left field for an RBI double for the game tying run and scored Acquart who pinch ran for Newbury. Medina followed with a perfect chopper through the right side and plated Wartman before being thrown out at second to give the Lopes their first lead of the game with a 7-6 advantage.

Nowlin came in relief in the bottom of the sixth to stifle the Wolverine offense and render them scoreless and she did just that. The Lopes continued to capitalize on their offensive momentum from the sixth inning. Breland produced a bunt single and rounded the bases for home off a Wolverine errant throw that landed in deep right field foul territory. Sierra Smith followed suit with a base hit to center and Dowdle advanced to second on an error as Sierra Smith plated. Shea Smith collected an RBI single to left field and scored Dowdle to extend the lead to 10-6.

In the final inning, GCU's defense took no prisoners. Forcing a fielders choice at second and a strikeout for outs two and three. The contest abruptly ended because of an illegal substitution and gave the Lopes the third out they needed. With the final outcome 10-6 they took the series.

Up Next: GCU is back in action tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. MST for the series finale against Utah Valley.