Upcoming Event: Softball versus Embry-Riddle on October 8, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Softball
7 p.m.
vs Embry-Riddle
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, February 26
Phoenix, Ariz.
11:30 a.m.
Grand Canyon
16-1
11
vs
5
Nevada
8-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Nevada
1
1
0
0
0
2
1
5
9
1
Grand Canyon
0
0
2
7
0
2
X
11
13
1
Outstanding team effort hands Pierson 400th career win
2/26/2017 3:37:00 PM | Softball
PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon softball team finished a perfect 6-0 in the GCU Invitational after completing the sweep of Nevada in a 11-5 finish. An outstanding team effort helped head coach Ann Pierson earn her 400th career win at the helm of the softball program.Â
One again, GCU came from behind to take control in the fourth off a seven hit, six run inning that ultimately claimed the contest.Â
Nikki Gonzalez had a strong outing finishing 3-for-4 adding one run and three RBI. She also banged out a first-pitch two-run homer.Â
In the circle, Taylor Nowlin pitched a complete game allowing five runs, from nine hits striking out six.Â
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How it HappenedÂ
Nevada came out swinging, producing a home run to go up 1-0 early. They followed in the second inning with another score off a sac fly to take a 2-0 advantage.Â
GCU answered the call in the third. Taylor Kaye sent a chopper through the infield and Gonzalez followed with a first-pitch two-run bomb over the center field fence to tie the ball game up at 2-2.Â
Nowlin took advantage of the momentum, dismantling the Wolf Pack offense in the top of the fourth.
The Lopes bats found the ball in a huge way in the fourth as GCU put up a season-high seven runs in an inning. After a leadoff single from Kendsey Hill, Shea Smith capitalized on an errant throw landing on first. Her sister, Sierra Smith made Nevada pay hitting a bullet through the right side, scoring Hill to take the lead at 3-2.
Bianca Boling didn't disappoint following with a RBI single through the middle scoring Shea Smith to take the 4-2 lead. Although the Wolf Pack made the adjustment in the circle, the Lopes weren't phased as Kaye followed right after with a single to left field racing to second on a throw as she scored Sierra Smith collecting the RBI. Nevada continued to meltdown on defense as Boling bolted in scoring off an illegal pitch.
With still no-outs on the board and the sixth GCU batter heading to the plate the Wolf Pack still had no answer. Gonzalez blasted the ball through the middle for another Lope run as Kaye cruised across the plate improving the score. Nevada finally got their first out of the inning as Heaven Acquart who pinch-ran for Gonzalez was tagged out at home leaving Gomez on base off a fielder's choice. As Hill came back up to the plate for the second time in the inning, she hit a rocket to left field scoring Gomez as the Lopes finished the inning with a 9-2 lead.Â
While the pitchers put in work on both sides to leave a scoreless fifth, Nevada found the momentum it needed in the sixth. The Wolf Pack rallied off a two-run, three-hit inning to chip away at the Lopes lead at 9-4. But, GCU wasn't having it answering in the home half of the sixth.Â
While Gonzalez and Megan Stevens landed on base off a hit and fielder's choice it was freshman Jordan Keeton who engineered  a pinch-hit two-RBI triple, unloading the bases for her first-career hit putting the game out of reach for the Wolf Pack.
While the Lopes had all of the momentum, Nevada would not go down quietly adding a run off a Lopes error. But Nowlin refused to be rattled as she handled the final batter with a strikeout to claim GCU's ninth straight win.Â
Lopes QuotesÂ
Head Coach Ann PiersonÂ
"It was a complete team weekend. Happy to be winning the way we're winning and happy to have so many different kids chipping in. It was the energy. It was picking their teammates up. Everybody was contributing and that's something we have to have as a very consistent force of our team. If we're going to continue with the success we have to continue to have a very selfless people. This was great weekend. We beat some really good teams and we got tested which is always good because we have to be able to respond to that and we know that we can get tested by anybody that we're going to play and we have to be ready for it."Â
On finishing close games
"We've had to come from behind. We've had to finish extra inning games. We are scoring more runs late in games, whether we are trying to come from behind or whether we're tight or up a little bit. I like seeing the run production later in the game and I feel like we should be doing that. I'm always happy to see runs scored late because that means if you're up you didn't check out and if you're down you just continue to fight."Â
Lopes NotesÂ
Up Next
The Lopes return to GCU Softball Stadium hosting the first annual GCU Round Robin on Mar. 3-5. GCU will play host to Creighton and Maine. The Lopes will open tourney play on Friday, Mar.3 in an evening battle with Maine. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. MST.Â
Â
One again, GCU came from behind to take control in the fourth off a seven hit, six run inning that ultimately claimed the contest.Â
Nikki Gonzalez had a strong outing finishing 3-for-4 adding one run and three RBI. She also banged out a first-pitch two-run homer.Â
In the circle, Taylor Nowlin pitched a complete game allowing five runs, from nine hits striking out six.Â
Â
How it HappenedÂ
Nevada came out swinging, producing a home run to go up 1-0 early. They followed in the second inning with another score off a sac fly to take a 2-0 advantage.Â
GCU answered the call in the third. Taylor Kaye sent a chopper through the infield and Gonzalez followed with a first-pitch two-run bomb over the center field fence to tie the ball game up at 2-2.Â
Nowlin took advantage of the momentum, dismantling the Wolf Pack offense in the top of the fourth.
The Lopes bats found the ball in a huge way in the fourth as GCU put up a season-high seven runs in an inning. After a leadoff single from Kendsey Hill, Shea Smith capitalized on an errant throw landing on first. Her sister, Sierra Smith made Nevada pay hitting a bullet through the right side, scoring Hill to take the lead at 3-2.
Bianca Boling didn't disappoint following with a RBI single through the middle scoring Shea Smith to take the 4-2 lead. Although the Wolf Pack made the adjustment in the circle, the Lopes weren't phased as Kaye followed right after with a single to left field racing to second on a throw as she scored Sierra Smith collecting the RBI. Nevada continued to meltdown on defense as Boling bolted in scoring off an illegal pitch.
With still no-outs on the board and the sixth GCU batter heading to the plate the Wolf Pack still had no answer. Gonzalez blasted the ball through the middle for another Lope run as Kaye cruised across the plate improving the score. Nevada finally got their first out of the inning as Heaven Acquart who pinch-ran for Gonzalez was tagged out at home leaving Gomez on base off a fielder's choice. As Hill came back up to the plate for the second time in the inning, she hit a rocket to left field scoring Gomez as the Lopes finished the inning with a 9-2 lead.Â
While the pitchers put in work on both sides to leave a scoreless fifth, Nevada found the momentum it needed in the sixth. The Wolf Pack rallied off a two-run, three-hit inning to chip away at the Lopes lead at 9-4. But, GCU wasn't having it answering in the home half of the sixth.Â
While Gonzalez and Megan Stevens landed on base off a hit and fielder's choice it was freshman Jordan Keeton who engineered  a pinch-hit two-RBI triple, unloading the bases for her first-career hit putting the game out of reach for the Wolf Pack.
While the Lopes had all of the momentum, Nevada would not go down quietly adding a run off a Lopes error. But Nowlin refused to be rattled as she handled the final batter with a strikeout to claim GCU's ninth straight win.Â
Lopes QuotesÂ
Head Coach Ann PiersonÂ
"It was a complete team weekend. Happy to be winning the way we're winning and happy to have so many different kids chipping in. It was the energy. It was picking their teammates up. Everybody was contributing and that's something we have to have as a very consistent force of our team. If we're going to continue with the success we have to continue to have a very selfless people. This was great weekend. We beat some really good teams and we got tested which is always good because we have to be able to respond to that and we know that we can get tested by anybody that we're going to play and we have to be ready for it."Â
On finishing close games
"We've had to come from behind. We've had to finish extra inning games. We are scoring more runs late in games, whether we are trying to come from behind or whether we're tight or up a little bit. I like seeing the run production later in the game and I feel like we should be doing that. I'm always happy to see runs scored late because that means if you're up you didn't check out and if you're down you just continue to fight."Â
Lopes NotesÂ
- With the six wins, head coach Ann Pierson reached her 400th career victory at the helm of the GCU softball program.Â
- With the win the Lopes have won nine-straight.Â
- The Lopes finish a perfect 6-0 in the GCU Invitational for the first time since its inception.Â
- GCU improves to 16-1 on the season and an undefeated 12-0 at GCU Softball Stadium.Â
- The Lopes put up a season high seven runs in a inning against Nevada.Â
- Jordon Keeton collected her first-career hit after securing a pinch-hit two-run triple in the home half of the sixth.Â
- In the leadoff role, Nikki Gonzalez led all Lopes hitting .352 on the day going 3-for-4 with one run, 3 RBI and a home run.Â
- Taylor Nowlin improved to 9-1 off a complete game allowing five runs with six strikeouts in the victory.Â
- Taylor Kaye finished perfect on the day going 2-for-2 with two runs and 1 RBI.Â
Up Next
The Lopes return to GCU Softball Stadium hosting the first annual GCU Round Robin on Mar. 3-5. GCU will play host to Creighton and Maine. The Lopes will open tourney play on Friday, Mar.3 in an evening battle with Maine. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. MST.Â
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nowlin, Taylor (9-1)
L: SARGENT, Kali (4-3)
Batting:
2B: RODRIGUEZ, Rachel 1
3B: NICHOLAS, Amanda 1
HR: PURCELL, Jennifer 1
RBI: GIBSON, Aaliyah 1 ; PURCELL, Jennifer 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Rachel 1 ; NICHOLAS, Amanda 1 ; MARTINEZ, Raquel 1
SH: SWAIN, Sienna 1
SF: MARTINEZ, Raquel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PURCELL, Jennifer 2 ; RODRIGUEZ, Rachel 2 ; MARTINEZ, Raquel 1
SB: HANSEN, Erika 1
CS: GIBSON, Aaliyah 1
Batting:
3B: Keeton, Jordon 1
HR: Gonzalez, Niki 1
RBI: Gonzalez, Niki 3 ; Hill, Kendsey 2 ; Keeton, Jordon 2 ; Smith, Sierra 1 ; Boling, Bianca 1 ; Kaye, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gonzalez, Niki 1 ; Olson, Loriann 2 ; Gomez, Laynee 1 ; Freeman, Hailey 1 ; Hill, Kendsey 1 ; Smith, Shea 1 ; Smith, Sierra 1 ; Boling, Bianca 1 ; Kaye, Taylor 2
SB: Olson, Loriann 1 ; Gomez, Laynee 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
rf/lf
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
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UTL
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