Lopes dominate in 2017 debut

Friday, February 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0

Northern Colorado

1-1

Northern Colorado

Grand Canyon

2/10/2017 8:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon softball program opened up the 2017 campaign in style picking up a pair of wins as they opened the new GCU Softball Stadium Friday. In the season opener, the Lopes defeated Northern Colorado, 9-2. GCU followed the performance with a 7-4 win over Bradley on Day 1 of the GCU Kickoff Tournament.

Camree Wartman went 6-for-8 recording three runs and plated two, hitting .750 on the day. Shea and Sierra Smith both hit 4-for-8 adding triples to their day of achievements.

In the circle, Taylor Nowlin tossed 11 strike outs in her return to the field.

How it Happened

Game 1 | Northern Colorado
In GCU's season opening contest, the Lopes were led by some familiar faces. Wartman went 4-for-4 from the plate, scoring two runs, and knocked in a RBI to lead GCU. Sophomore Sierra Smith also has an impressive game, going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs.

In the circle, Nowlin went the full seven innings, allowing only five hits and two earned runs. She struck out 11 batters during the contest.

The Lopes struck first in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Sierra Smith hit a triple to right field and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nikki Gonzalez for the first GCU run scored at the new stadium.

After Northern Colorado managed two runs in the top of the fifth inning, GCU responded in a big way. The Lopes added five runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead for good. Shea Smith, Sierra Smith, Laynee Gomez, Bianca Boling, and Wartman all scored in the inning as the Bears struggled from the circle.

The five-run inning put the game out of reach for UNC, when GCU added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The offensive outburst helped earn the first win of the season for the Lopes at 9-2.

Game 2 | Bradley
In an action packed contest, the Lopes secured its second win of the season over Bradley in a 7-4 finish.

Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage made her GCU debut in the circle earning her first win of the season. She pitched a complete seven innings, allowing just four total runs.

At the plate, Shea Smith paced GCU as she nearly hit the cycle. Smith recorded a double, a triple, and a home run in the game. She also knocked in two RBI and scored three runs. Wartman continued her impressive day by going 2-for-4, adding one RBI and one run scored.

GCU got on the scoreboard early against Bradley. Shea Smith started things off with a double and then scored on a Gonzalez single in the first inning. Gonzalez then scored on a double by Wartman to put the Lopes up 2-0.

In the fifth inning, GCU again lit up the scoreboard thanks to Shea Smith. She hammered a home run to left center to score both herself and Kendsey Hill who reached on a double. Smith's homer extended the Lopes lead to 4-1.

GCU earned two more runs in the sixth inning. After a Wartman double and a walk by Laynee Gomez, Bianca Boling drilled a double to left field to score both runners. The Lopes stranded two base runners at the end of the inning but still kept their 6-2 advantage.

But Bradley wouldn't go quietly as they put up two runs off three hits in the sixth. Bradley's Maria Schroeder blasted a RBI double to cut GCU's lead to 6-3. They later converted a sacrifice fly to come within two headed into the final frame at 6-4.

GCU responded as Shea Smith added one more run in the seventh kudos to the Smith sisters. Shea tripled to right center field and Sierra notched a single to score her sister. Aguilar-Beaucage and the defense held Bradley in the final inning to seal the victory for GCU.

Lopes Quotes
Head coach Ann Pierson
"I feel like we came out anxious, probably a little nervous, but so excited to be back. Not just back on campus, but back in this amazing stadium and just getting chance to get our feet wet. Really happy to get the first two under our belt. Happy to get two wins. Taylor (Nowlin) came in and pitched like a senior. I was so pleased with what she did. She limited her walks which is something we've been working on. Sierra (Smith) had a fantastic game at the plate against Northern Colorado, it was great way to start off the season for her and for the offense. It was good for 'Bobo' (Aguilar-Beaucage) to get her first game out, she threw a lot of really good pitches. I was pleased with everybody overall. I thought our base running was good. I thought our defense was solid."

Lopes Notes

The Lopes go undefeated on opening day for the second-straight season with wins over Northern Colorado and Bradley.
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage made her first collegiate debut in the circle for the Lopes. Tossing a full contest, yielding just four runs, and walking zero.
Freshman Megan Stevens produced the first hit of her collegiate career.
Taylor Nowlin tossed 11 strikeouts on the day allowing just five runs through 28 batters faced.
GCU converted three double plays on the night.
As a team, GCU produced seven doubles, two triples and one homer.
Shea Smith nearly hit the cycle, recording a double, a triple, and a home run against Bradley. She also knocked in two RBI and scored three runs. She went 4-for-8 on the day.

Up Next
The Lopes are back in action on Day 2 of the GCU Kickoff Tourney. GCU returns to the field to face Northern Colorado at 12 p.m. MST followed by Bradley at 2:30. Bradley and Northern Colorado will face off at 5 in a neural site battle.