GCU looks to build on success in GCU Invitational

GCU INVITATIONAL \| FEB. 23-26 \| GCU Softball Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.
GRAND CANYON LOPES 10-1 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	vs.	SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS 5-5 (0-0 MW) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
HOW TO FOLLOW Video GCU.tv \| Live Stats Game 1, Game 2 \| @GCUSoftball \| Tournament Schedule
Schedule vs. San Jose State \| Thursday, Feb. 23 - 4:00 p.m. \| Saturday, Feb. 25 - 11:30 a.m.


GRAND CANYON LOPES 10-1 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	vs.	PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS 0-5 (0-0 Big Sky) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
HOW TO FOLLOW Video GCU.tv \| Live Stats \| @GCUSoftball
Schedule vs. Portland State \| Friday, Feb. 24 - 4:30 p.m.


GRAND CANYON LOPES 10-1 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	vs.	NEVADA WOLF PACK 5-3 (0-0 MW) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
HOW TO FOLLOW Video GCU.tv \| Live Stats Game 1, Game 2 \| @GCUSoftball
Schedule vs. Nevada \| Friday, Feb. 24 - 7:00 p.m. \| Sunday, Feb. 26 - 11:30 a.m.


GRAND CANYON LOPES 10-1 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	vs.	RHODE ISLAND RAMS 1-4 (0-0 A-10) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
HOW TO FOLLOW Video GCU.tv \| Live Stats \| @GCUSoftball
Schedule vs. Rhode Island \| Saturday, Feb. 25 - 2:00 p.m.

The Grand Canyon softball team returns home to host the fourth annual GCU Invitational on Feb.23-26. The Lopes will welcome San Jose State, Nevada, Rhode Island and Portland State to GCU Softball Stadium come Thursday.

GCU will play in six contests over the weekend. The Lopes open the tourney on Thursday, Feb. 23 against San Jose State at 4 p.m. MST. GCU returns to the field on Friday, Feb.24 against Portland State at 4:30 and close out the day against Nevada at 7.

GCU continues tourney play on Saturday, Feb. 25 in its final game with San Jose State at 11:30. The Lopes will close out the day against Rhode Island at 2. GCU will wrap up ball play on Sunday, Feb. 26 as they face Nevada at 9 a.m.

LEADING OFF

The Lopes open the season at 10-1 the best mark since its Division I transition in 2014. GCU went 4-1 in the Baylor Getterman Classic last weekend with its lone loss to No. 23 Baylor.

GCU will meet all but one opponent for the first time in program history. The Lopes faced Nevada in the inaugural GCU Invitational where they swept the Wolf Pack in two contests. The Lopes were scheduled to face Portland State last season in the San Diego Classic hosted by San Diego State, but the contest was canceled due to rain.

After earning her seventh win last weekend, Taylor Nowlin is tied with Georgia's Brittany Gray for most wins in the nation. She currently ranks 18th in strikeouts (40). In a complete game against Baylor, she allowed just four hits. She has not allowed more than five hits this season through eight appearances.

Freshman, Hailey Freeman collected her first-career single pulling in a RBI in the process against against North Texas. She finished the contest .500 going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. She finished the weekend 2-for-2 though five at-bats.

Last time out
The GCU softball program finished its first weekend on the road 4-1 with its lone loss to No. 23 Baylor (1-0). GCU produced an overall batting average of .273 adding 25 runs from 41 hits which included seven doubles, two home runs and one triple. The Lopes defeated UTSA (4-3) in a nine-inning finish after a Camree Wartman RBI single. In the tourney finale against Lamar (5-4), GCU posted a comeback win after tying the game up in the seventh inning and winning it in the eighth off a Bianca Boling walkoff single. Shea Smith and Taylor Nowlin were also named to the All-Tourney team.

Sizing up the Opponents

Scouting San Jose State Spartans

The Spartans are currently 5-5 on the season with a wins against Virginia and UC Riverside.
In 10 starts on the season, freshman Cassidy Clark leads the way for the Spartans with a .318 batting average, including a double and three RBI.
In the circle, senior Katelyn Linford (3-1) owns a 3.67 ERA in six appearances with a team-leading 27.0 IP and 27 strikeouts.
Head coach Peter Turner is currently in his 11th season leading the Spartans. The 2013 WAC Coach of the Year is the winningest coach In San Jose State history.

Scouting Portland State Vikings

The Vikings are currently 0-5 on the season with a pair of losses to Dayton.
Katherine Kramer holds a .308 batting average in five starts, including a double and a team-leading two RBI.
Head coach Meadow McWhorter enters her first season at the helm at Portland State and is just the fifth head coach to lead the program.

Scouting Nevada Wolf Pack

The Wolf Pack are currently 5-3 on the season with two recent victories over Southern Utah and UTEP.
Junior Alyssa Mendez leads the Pack with a .500 batting average, including two doubles, a homer and a team-high six RBI.
In the circle, Kali Sargent (2-1) owns a 2.50 ERA, including two complete games. She owns a team-high 18.0 innings.
Head coach Josh Taylor enters his first season with Nevada.

Scouting Rhode Island Rams

The Rams are currently 1-4 on the season with a win against Incarnate Word and a pair of losses to Ole Miss.
In five starts, Erika Yeager owns a .417 batting average with a double and three RBI.
Head coach Bridget Hurlman is currently in her second season at the helm of the Rhode Island softball program.

Up Next
The Lopes will return home to host the GCU Round Robin on March 3-5 as the Lopes welcome Maine and Creighton to GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes will open tourney action on Friday, March 3 against Maine. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. MST.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bianca Boling

Hailey Freeman

Taylor Nowlin

Loriann Olson

Shea Smith

Camree Wartman

Grand Canyon University Athletics