Explosive offense and stellar pitching leads GCU to first WAC win

Saturday, April 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

26-13, 0

Seattle

13-22, 0

Seattle

Grand Canyon

Explosive offense and stellar pitching leads GCU to first WAC win

4/1/2017 7:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon softball team dominated on both sides of the field to pick up its first Western Athletic Conference victory Saturday night. The Lopes dropped Seattle U in an 8-0 run-rule win off dominate offense and stellar pitching.

The Lopes improve to 26-13 on the year and 1-2 in WAC play.

Taylor Nowlin had a day throwing a 1-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk.

Megan Stevens had a great day at the plate going a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run.

How it Happened

The Lopes started the game off with momentum as the defense opened the game with a quick three up three down inning to get GCU's bats up. The offense fed off the defensive performance putting up three-runs from four-hits to take the advantage early.

Consecutive singles for Niki Gonzalez and Laynee Gomez allowed GCU to immediately threaten. Shea Smith was patient in the batter's box and drew the free pass to load the bases. Camree Wartman capitalized with a RBI single through the right side to plate Gonzalez for the first run of the day. Sierra Smith followed blasting the ball to right field, plating Gomez off the RBI single. The Lopes went on to add the third run after Megan Stevens sacrificed herself to score Sierra Smith off the SF play leaving GCU up 3-0.

The Lopes went on to add another run to the total in the home half of the second as Jenna Coates drew the walk and Gonzalez collected the RBI single to put GCU up 4-0.

While Nowlin and the GCU defense continued to keep Seattle U off-balance, the Lopes continued to dominate on offense. GCU added two more runs to the total in the third.

Shea Smtih landed on first off a Redhawk error. Wartman drew the walk and Olson welcomed the opportunity sending the ball to left field to score Shea Smith and add to the tally. But GCU continued to pressure as Stevens stepped up with a big hit sending Redhawks diving for a bullet up the middle scoring Wartman to go up 6-0.

While the fourth inning was quiet, GCU put the game away in the fifth.

Sierra Smith landed on first after being hit in the back. Olson reached on a fielder's choice as Sierra Smith was out at second and Stevens once again secured a base off a single. This left the door open for Coates to hit a bomb to the right field wall for the RBI double, scoring Olson to put GCU one run away from the win. But Kendsey Hill refused to be denied hitting a first-pitch rocket to left field sending Stevens across the plate for the 8-0 shutout win in five innings.

Lopes Quotes
Head coach Ann Pierson

I'm happy we finished the weekend on a high note. This was more like our team with everyone chipping in and performing. Yesterday was frustrating for everyone. A couple of positives were Jenna Coates and Mariah Valencia. Jenna really swung her bat well and is running with her opportunities. Mariah was outstanding on the mound last night. Her composure through tight innings and various distractions were incredible. She kept us in the game and we didn't execute. I'm very proud of her mental and emotional toughness. Well get back to work on Monday and prepare for a tough road trip at UMKC.

Up next
GCU heads to Kansas City, Mo. to open WAC road play at UMKC. GCU will play a doubleheader on Friday, April 7 at 12 p.m. MST and 2. The Lopes will finish the series on Saturday, April 8 at noon.