Bats come to life in Day 3 of Round Robin

Sunday, March 5

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

20-2

Maine

1-3

Maine

Grand Canyon

3/5/2017 5:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Jake Hernandez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon softball squad improved to 20-2 on the season and 16-1 at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes defeated the Creighton Blue Jays, 8-2 in Game 1 before recording a team-high 15 hits on the season to defeat the Maine Black Bears in Game 2.

At the plate, Camree Wartman went 3-for-7 with a triple, five RBI and two runs. The senior had four RBI in Game 2 against Maine. Perfect for the day, Shea Smith was 7-for-7 with an RBI and four runs scored.

In the circle, Taylor Nowlin (11-1) threw a complete-game and tied a season-high 11 strikeouts. She gave up three runs, two earned while holding the Black Bears to only three hits. In Game 1, Mariah Valencia (4-0) tossed 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and a walk.

How it Happened

Game 1 | Creighton

In the circle for Game 1, Valencia tossed 4.0 shutout innings of relief to earn her fourth victory on the season. At the plate, Hailey Freeman went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a walk. Shea Smith was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs, and Laynee Gomez was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run.

The Blue Jays got things started in the first inning after a couple singles drove in the first run of the game. The Lopes quickly responded in the bottom half when Loriann Olson doubled to center followed by a single by Shea Smith. Gomez would capitalize for the Lopes with an infield single to score the first GCU run of the game.

GCU poured on the runs in the third inning when a hit by pitch, single and walk loaded the bases for Megan Stevens. The freshman drew a four-pitch walk to send the first run of the inning across the plate. The next batter, Freeman, took advantage of the bases loaded situation with a two-RBI single to left field. Wartman answered with an RBI single of her own to extend the GCU lead to 5-2.

In the fourth, the Lopes loaded the bases once again. This time around, a hit batter and Freeman walk sent an additional two runs across for the Lopes. GCU would add their eighth and final run of the game in the fifth inning off an RBI single by Gomez to defeat the Blue Jays, 8-2.

Game 2 | Maine

In Game 2, Nowlin tossed a complete game with a season-high 11 strikeouts to earn her 11th victory on the season. At the plate, Shea Smith was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and Wartman was 2-for-4 with a season-high four RBI.

In a relatively quiet start for both teams, Grand Canyon was able to get on the board first in the third inning after Shea Smith singled down the left field line to score Nikki Gonzalez. The Black Bears responded in the next frame with a two-run homer by Rachel Harvey to give Maine a 2-1 lead.

GCU's bats came to life in the fifth when three straight singles loaded the bases. Wartman connected for a three-RBI triple down the left field line to clear the bases. Boling would answer with a double to left center to give the Lopes a 6-2 lead.

The Lopes added three runs in the sixth when a single by Wartman and double by Stevens extended the lead to 9-2. The Black Bears would add one last run with a homer in the top half of the seventh but the deficit was too much to overcome in the Lopes' 9-3 victory.

Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Ann Pierson:
"This was a great day and it was more characteristic to what we had gotten used to. Mariah (Valencia) came in and threw tremendous pitches. She just attacks the batters, I was pleased with her all weekend. And of course, Taylor (Nowlin) had another great game. Our defense was solid both games. Shea (Smith) was phenomenal. They could couldn't get her out. She played great defense, ran the bases well and hit like crazy. This was good, I was pleased to see how they responded after yesterday."

Lopes Notes

Valencia earned her fourth victory of the season, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in Game 2 against Creighton.
Nowlin tied a season-high 11 strikeouts against the Black Bears and has a five-game win streak.
Shea Smith was a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate on the day.
Wartman had a season-high four RBI in Game 2.
The Lopes recorded a team-high 15 hits on the season against the Black Bears.
Freeman recorded a career-high three RBI in Game 2.

Next Up
The Lopes will hit the road for the Stanford Easton Classic in Palo Alto, Calif. from March 10-12. GCU will face Cal Poly, Stanford, Lehigh and UConn. Game 1 against Cal Poly will start Friday, March 10 at 3 p.m. MST followed by Game 2 of the day against Stanford at 7:30 p.m. MST.