Lopes handle San Jose State in 8-0 shutout victory

Thursday, February 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-1

San Jose State

5-6

San Jose State

Grand Canyon

2/23/2017 6:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon softball program opened up the GCU Invitational in style handling San Jose State 8-0 in a five inning run-rule victory. The Lopes improved to 11-1 on the season and secured their first shutout of 2017.

Camree Wartman and Shea Smith both finished 2-for-3. Wartman secured a three-run homer in the first inning picking up a team-leading three RBI.

Taylor Nowlin pitched another great game. Securing a 3-hitter en route to her eighth win of the season.

How it Happened
GCU took the field with a pep in their step excited to be back at home. The Lopes bats came alive early on as Shea Smith secured an infield single to start things off. While Sierra Smith drew the walk, a Spartan miscue secured GCU's first run and placed Laynee Gomez on first. But it was Wartman who hit a bomb over the right field fence for the three-run shot to extend the Lopes lead to 4-0. But the Lopes weren't done as Kendsey Hill followed with a homer herself to give GCU a nice 5-0 lead to end the first.

The Lopes finally got their offense back in a grove in the fourth. Shea Smith blasted out the first double of the day to immediately threaten. Nikki Gonzalez took advantage of the opportunity smashing the ball for the RBI single as Smith cruised across the plate extending GCU's lead to 6-0 to close out the inning.

While Nowlin and the defense continued to do their work denying the Spartans at every turn, the Lopes put the nail in the coffin in the fifth. Gomez starting things off with a base hit and made the Spartans pay for a wild pitch bolting to second. Olson followed drawing a walk and then Gomez and Olson stole second and third to threaten with the game-wining run on the base path. Hill followed, drawing the walk loading the bases for GCU. The Lopes RBI leader Bianca Boling didn't disappoint plating Gomez to put GCU one-run away from victory. But it was Madelyn Dowdle who pinch-hit for Taylor Kaye who came up big securing the sac-fly for the walk-off victory claiming the Lopes first shutout of the season at 8-0.

Lopes Quotes
Head coach Ann Pierson
"Anytime you can put runs up in the first inning you feel good about the rest of the game. Just their energy during the beginning of the game even going into warmups they were so excited to be back home. They're so excited about their new facility and that fueled it. We knew San Jose State is a great program, so we knew we were going to have a hard game and they were ready for it. I think that Baylor trip really prepared us for this weekend. Taylor (Nowlin) was Taylor, she kept their offense off balance. Anytime she can establish her change up, I feel good about her approach to any game. So really proud of her. The defense made some good plays when they had opportunities and it was just good to see our bats exploade."

Lopes Notes

GCU picked up its first shutout victory and second run-rule win of the season.
The Lopes reached a season-high two home runs in a game.
GCU has also secured five runs in a inning for the third time this year.
The Lopes improved their win streak to seven with tonight's victory.
Camree Wartman went 2-for-3 on the night which included a 3-run home run.
Shea Smith went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs.
Kendsey Hill tallied her second home run of the year for the second straight week.
Taylor Nowlin improved to 8-1 on the season. She pitched a 3-hitter in the shutout win, striking out four through 5.0 innings. She has yet to allow more than five hits in a contest.

Up Next
The Lopes are back in action for Day 2 of the GCU Invitational. GCU returns to the field on Friday, Feb. 24 for a clash with Portland State at 4:30 p.m. MST. The Lopes will finish the day with a night contest against Nevada. First pitch is set for 7.