Lopes split Day 2 of Round Robin

Saturday, March 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

18-2

Maine

1-1

Maine

Grand Canyon

3/4/2017 4:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Jake Hernandez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon softball team improved to 18-2 on the season and 14-1 at GCU Softball Stadium. In Game 1, the Lopes defeated Creighton 2-1 before suffering the first loss at home to Maine, 4-0.

In the circle, Mariah Valencia (3-0) pitched an one-run complete game to lift the Lopes over the Blue Jays in Game 1. At the plate, Nikki Gonzalez went 4-for-7 on the day with three doubles, two RBI and a walk.

How it Happened
In Game 1, The Blue Jays got off to a quick lead as Allie Reinhart singled to center to drive in the only Creighton run of the game. It was not until the fourth inning for the Lopes get on the score board. After back-to-back singles by Sierra Smith and Bianca Boling, Nikki Gonzalez answered with a double to left center to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs. The Lopes would proceed out-hit the Blue Jays 8-2.

In the circle, Valencia earned her third victory on the year, tossing 7.0 innings of two-hit ball to allow one run with a career-high five strikeouts. Two hits allowed ties her season low.

In Game 2, the Black Bears quickly got off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After three straight singles allowed by Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage, Maine's Alyssa Derrick took advantage of the bases loaded with a two-RBI single up the middle. Derrick would add a homer in the fourth inning to complete her monster day against Aguilar-Beaucage, giving the Black Bears a 3-0 lead. The Black Bears were not done offensively when two walks and a single gave them another bases loaded chance. This time around, Maddie Decker connected on a single up the middle to give the Maine their 4-0 victory.

The Black Bears' pitching would hold the Lopes to only four hits in the game, two coming from Gonzalez, including a double. The chances were there for Grand Canyon as the Lopes stranded 10 runners on bases. Aguilar-Beaucage fell to 5-1 on the season as the Lopes snap an 11-game win streak.

Lopes Notes

Lopes improve to 18-2 on the season and 14-1 at GCU Softball Stadium.
Valencia threw a career-high five strikeouts and tied a season-low two hits allowed in Game 1 against Creighton.
Gonzalez collected four of GCU's 12 hits on the day, including three doubles.

Up Next
The Lopes will be back in action tomorrow for Day 3 of the Round Robin play. GCU will start the day against Creighton with first pitch at noon MST, followed by the Lopes' final game against Maine at 2:30 p.m. MST.