Lopes split opening day of Santa Clara Round Robin

Friday, March 17

Santa Clara, Calif.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

23-5

Long Beach State

8-16-1

Long Beach State

Grand Canyon

3/17/2017 7:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Imani Suber

SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- The Grand Canyon softball team split opening day of the Santa Clara Round Robin. While the Lopes fell to Long Beach State 5-2 in the first game of the day, GCU bounced back against Santa Clara downing the Broncos in a 7-4 decision.

How it Happened

Game 1 | Long Beach State

GCU started on a high note, with three quick outs on defense highlighted by two straight Nowlin strikeouts. The Lopes went on to suffer a brutal second inning, that ultimately put the game out of reach.

Long Beach State put together a damaging inning that produced five runs off four hits as a result of a grand slam performance. The Lopes defense remained poised closing out the inning with the score at 5-0.

GCU found its chance to respond in the home half of the fourth. Shea Smith drew the leadoff walk followed by Sierra Smith's single through the middle to put her sister in scoring position. Camree Wartman put the ball in the dirt for the Shea Smith score to get the Lopes on the board at 4-1.

The Beach had their own response in the top of the fifth as they secured the second homer of the game to go back up by four at 5-1. From that point on, the Lopes' defense would keep the Beach offense quiet as Nowlin allowed just one hit in the remaining innings.

On the other side of the ball, GCU remained persistent notching another run in the sixth frame. After a Sierra Smith walk, Wartman and Smith were able to capitalize on an LBSU error that landed them on second and third. Madelyn Dowdle, who pinch-hit for Taylor Kaye scored Sierra Smith after forcing the second out to bring GCU back within three at 5-2. But, that was the closest the Lopes would come as they weren't able to mount a seventh inning rally to surpass the Beach.

Taylor Nowlin, threw a complete game tossing seven strikeouts, allowing five runs (2ER) with just one walk.

Shea and Sierra Smith both went 1-for-2 in the contest.

Game 2 | Santa Clara

GCU came out like a team possessed on offense, putting up seven runs off six hits going through the entire lineup to jump out to the early lead at 7-0. Megan Stevens garnered a free base early. Shea Smith followed shortly after with a bomb to the fence for the RBI double for the first run. While Shea Smith made the Broncos pay for an errant throw adding the second run, Wartman plated the third run for the Lopes off a bullet through the right side.

GCU went on to score two-straight runs off back to back RBI doubles from Jenna Coates and Kendsey Hill. Stevens closed out the inning with a RBI single to extend the GCU lead to 7-0 to close out the productive inning.

While the Lopes went on to play lights out defense for the first three innings, Santa Clara finally got the better of them in the home half of the fourth. The Broncos put together a two run, two hit inning to shave GCU's lead to 7-2.

After a Santa Clara pitching change in the second inning, the Lopes defense went silent.

Santa Clara mounted a rally in the final frame, scoring a pair of runs off Lope miscues to cut the lead to 7-4. But that was the closest the Broncos would come as GCU secured the final out of the game and the win.

The Lopes secured four doubles in the game from Stevens, Shea Smith, Hill and Coates. Stevens lead the Lopes going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

In the circle, Mariah Valencia pitched a complete game allowing four runs (1ER) with a strikeout and a pair of walks.

Lopes Quotes
Head coach Ann Pierson
"I felt fortunate that we got a split. Our offense was non-existent in Game 1 and Long Beach State stayed with their plan. It was very effective. In Game 2 we came out swinging and saw our explosive offense. But then after the pitching change we didn't adjust. We had glimpses of competitive moments but we have to keep grinding and use our preparation for a more consistent approach. We have two very tough opponents tomorrow and I believe the kids will get back after it."

Up next
The Lopes are back in action for the second day of tourney. GCU will open the day against Lehigh at 11:30 a.m. MST. GCU will close out the day against Big 10 foe Northwestern. First pitch is schedule for 4:30.