Four home runs lift Lopes over San Jose State, Rhode Island

Saturday, February 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

11:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

14-1

San Jose State

8-7

San Jose State

Grand Canyon

Four home runs lift Lopes over San Jose State, Rhode Island

2/25/2017 4:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score - G1 (PDF)Box Score - G2 (PDF)

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon softball program showed determination and poise after engineering consecutive comeback victories off sixth inning pinch-hit home run shots. The Lopes downed San Jose State in the first game of the day in a 4-3 finish and edged out Rhode Island 7-5 Saturday.

Freshman Megan Stevens played a pivotal role for GCU hitting two bombs in both games to put the Lopes ahead to claim the contests. She also notched her first-career homer against San Jose State. The Lopes tallied four homers on the day as Stevens accounted for two, while Bianca Boling and Nikki Gonzalez shared one apiece.

In the Circle, Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage had a strong outing against Rhode Island. Coming in relief allowing just three hits, zero runs with 7 strikeouts through 4.0 innings of work.

How it Happened

Game 1 | San Jose State
San Jose State started the inning aggressively, putting one run on the board as a result of a sacrifice fly to take the lead.

While the Spartan run went unanswered, SJSU kept the pressure on in the top of the second scoring a home run to take a 2-0 lead. The defense recovered shutting down the rest of the offense to get out of the inning.

Through innings one through three, the Lopes weren't short on opportunities but struggled to put runs across the plate. GCU finally made something happen in the fourth after back to back Shea and Sierra Smith singles. Bianca Boling stepped up to the plate smashing the ball to second, scoring Shea Smith to get the Lopes first run on the board.

GCU knew it was time to make it happen on offense in the home half of the sixth. After starting with quick two quick outs, Boling's aggressive at-bat paid off as she hit her second home run of the weekend to tie the game up at 2-2. But, the freshman Stevens who pinch hit for Tayor Kaye rose to the occasion, hitting a bomb over the left field fence to give the Lopes the lead at 3-2.

But the Spartans wouldn't go quietly. As SJSU got some help from GCU after consecutive hit by pitches to land two on base, Nowlin reentered the circle relieving Aguilar-Beaucage to close out the inning forcing the outs and claiming the comeback win for GCU.

Game 2 | Rhode Island

GCU took the early lead off a Gonzalez home run. The Lopes followed Gonzalez's lead as Camree Wartman sent a single down the right field line and after Gomez drew the walk, both stole bases to threaten on second and third. The Lopes added their second run of the inning off a Rhody error as Hill advanced to first and Wartman plated as a result. Everything kept going GCU's way as Shea Smith scored Gomez for the third run. The Lopes ended the first with three runs from two hits and one error.

Shortly after Rhode Island answered in the second. Putting together a three-run inning after back toback hits scored the first runner. The Rams went on to convert two more to cut GCU's lead to 4-3.

While the Rhody runs went unanswered in the home half of the second. The Rams piled on two more runs to take a 5-3 lead in the top of the third. The Lopes finally delivered on offense as a Sierra Smith bullet through the middle scored Hill who occupied second off a single to come within one at 5-4.

As Aguilar-Beaucage entered the circle for the Lopes, relieving Mariah Valencia she owned the circle from the fourth on. Refusing to give the Rhody's any more momentum on offense.

While the Lopes offense was quiet in consecutive innings, the tide turned for GCU in the home half of the sixth. Sierra Smith started things off for GCU with a base hit. While Boling sacrificed herself to advance Sierra Smith, the Rhody staff made the executive decision to walk Gonzalez. Leaving the door open for coach Pierson to pinch hit Stevens trying to replicate her success in Game 1. It worked as Stevens again fearlessly stepped up to bat sending a rocket over the right field fence making URI pay with the two-out three-run homer to put GCU up 7-5.

Augilar-Beacauge captured the Lopes momentum as she entered the circle striking out her seventh Rhody batter for the second out and forcing the final out to claim GCU's 15th win of the season.

Lopes Notes

GCU improves to 15-1 on the season.
The Lopes finished the day with four home runs.
Megan Stevens secured her first career home run in Game 1 against San Jose State. She picked up her second in Game 2 finishing with four RBI.
The Lopes tallied four homers on the day as Stevens accounted for two and Boling and Gonzalez shared one apiece.
Sierra Smith led the Lopes going 4-for-6 with one run and one RBI.
GCU tallied back-to-back homers in the sixth inning of Game 1 to take the game.
The Lopes have now won seven straight and remain undefeated at home.
GCU engineer back-to-back comeback victory's after defeating San Jose State and Nevada on Saturday.
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage reached a season high seven strikeouts through just 4.0 innings of work against Rhode Island.