Lopes return home to host No.6 Washington

MAR. 22 \| GCU SOFTBALL STADIUM \| Phoenix, Ariz
GRAND CANYON LOPES 25-7 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	vs.	No.6 WASHINGTON HUSKIES 24-3 (3-0 PAC 12) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
HOW TO FOLLOW Live Stats Game 1 , Game 2 \| Live Stream GCU.tv \| @GCUSoftball
Schedule vs. Washington \| 3:00 p.m. / 5:30 p.m.

GCU returns home to host its first ranked foe in No. 6 Washington in a mid-week clash. The Lopes will play a doubleheader with first pitch set for 3 p.m. MST. and 5:30.

LEADING OFF

The Lopes will host their first ever ranked foe in GCU Softball Stadium come Wednesday. The Lopes currently boast a 16-1 home record this season.

The Lopes debuted at No. 60 in the Ratings Percentage Index after tallying a 25-7 record during the first six weeks of the season. GCU debuted in the top 75 in the RPI rankings for the second straight season.

GCU will host Washington for the third time in two seasons. The two squads last met in 2015 as GCU hosted the Huskies. The Lopes fell in both games of the doubleheader contest.

Kendsey Hill had a solid weekend in the Santa Clara Round Robin, hitting .545 (6-for-11) on the weekend tallying hits in all but one game. Hill was a perfect 3-for-3 against Big 10 foe Northwestern. She also boasted a .643 on base percentage and drew three walks.

Camree Wartman is currently hitting .379 on the season, she tallied her fifth triple of the year and is tied for fourth in the NCAA with the tally.

With 52 doubles on the season, the Lopes offensive firepower has been most visible in the doubles category. Niki Gonzalez (12) Wartman (11) and Shea Smith (10) all sit in the NCAA national rankings in the category. Gonzalez leads the Lopes and is tied for third in the country. Wartman is tied for sixth, while Shea Smith is tied for No. 20.

After finishing last weekend with a 13-3 record, Taylor Nowlin is tied for No. 13 in the NCAA with the record.

For the first time in the softball program's Division I history, GCU received Top 25 votes in the ESPN.COM/USA Softball national poll. In Week 5, the Lopes received two votes after improving to 23-4 in the Stanford Easton Classic.

Last time out

GCU went 2-3 in the Santa Clara Round Robin, sweeping Santa Clara in both games, but falling to Long Beach State, Northwestern and Lehigh. The Lopes hit .254 as a team putting together 16 runs from 35 hits which included eight doubles and one triple. GCU also had 14 RBI on the weekend and were a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases.

Sizing up the Opponents

Scouting Washington

Grand Canyon will meet Washington for the third time in program history. The Lopes last hosted the Huskies in 2015, where they fell in both contests.
The Huskies are currently 24-3 on the season and recently swept Arizona State to start Pac-12 play a perfect 3-0.
Sis Bates leads the team with a .430 batting average (34-of-79). She has tallied six doubles, four triples and a .684 slugging percentage.
In the circle, Taran Alvelo (13-1) leads the team in wins and strikeouts (22 ER/ 88.2 IP). She has tossed 89 strikeouts and has a 2.23 ERA.
The Huskies appeared in the 2016 NCAA Super Regional. They won a national championship in 2009.
Head coach Healther Tarr enters her 12th season at the helm of the Washington program.

Up Next
The Lopes travel to Tuscon, Ariz. for a midweek clash with No. 5 Arizona. The Lopes will play in a doubleheader contest starting at 2 p.m. MST.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jenna Coates

Niki Gonzalez

Kendsey Hill

Taylor Nowlin

Shea Smith

Sierra Smith

Camree Wartman

Grand Canyon University Athletics