Lopes reach 30 wins after securing CSUB series

Friday, April 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

29-14, 4-3

CSU Bakersfield

6-26, 1-6

CSUB

Grand Canyon

4/14/2017 10:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Shae Fanning

PHOENIX– The Grand Canyon softball program claimed its second Western Athletic Conference series tonight after defeating CSUB in both games of the series opening doubleheader. Combining for 12 runs over the two games, the Lopes were dominated on both offense and defense in their 5-4 Game 1 win and 7-3 Game 2 victory.

How it Happened

Game 1:

Grand Canyon came out swinging early on, putting up a quick 1-run in the first inning when Camree Wartman connected for a single to drive in Laynee Gomez. Followed by back-to-back 2-run innings led by the strong bats of Kendsey Hill, Loriann Olson, and Jenna Coates, the Lopes found themselves up 5-0 through three innings of work.

Putting on a strong defensive show as well, pitcher Taylor Nowlin kept CSUB off balance rattling off nine trikeouts against the Roadrunner offense.

In the final frame, the Roadrunners showed some life. Putting up 4-runs off 3-hits, bringing the game within one at 5-4.

However, the Lopes defense remained poised closing out the contest to take game one of the series at 5-4.

Shea Smith led on offense going 2-for-3 on the afternoon.

In the circle, Nowlin threw a 5-hitter, allowing four runs, with two walks and nine strikeouts.

Game 2:

The first and second innings were a battle of the defenses, as both teams shutout one another's offenses to leave the game scoreless after one. Grand Canyon's Mariah Valencia improved her strikeout total to three, leaving CSUB with very little offensive momentum.

CSUB managed to rally in the third inning, but was shut down by a great double play by the Lopes defense. In return, the Lopes third inning was also cut short by a ground ball double play by the Roadrunners defense to keep the game scoreless after three innings.

CSUB was the first team to break through in the fourth, scoring 2-runs on a hard hit to left field, and 1-run on an overthrow to second.

After the Lopes got out of the inning, they were quick to respond. Sierra Smith collected the Lopes first RBI of the game, scoring Megan Stevens from third. GCU kept the rally going as Shea Smith singled to advance the runners. Coates then singled to left driving in Sierra Smith, for the go-ahead run making the score 3-2. Hill then hit a long double off the left center wall, clearing the bases and driving in 2-runs, giving Grand Canyon the lead 4-3.

Coming off a big fourth inning, the Lopes picked up right where they left off in the bottom of the fifth. With bases loaded, Sierra Smith tripled to left center driving in 2-runs. Shea Smith followed with a long fly ball to center, scoring her sister Sierra Smith to give the Lopes a 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.

It was all the GCU defense from that point on as Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage came in relief and dominated the circle. Allowing just two Roadrunner hits through 3.1 innings of work. She retired six CSUB hitters. Aguilar-Beaucage stuck out two in the finadl frame, sealing the series for GCU at 7-3.

Sierra Smith led at the plate going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs including a triple.

Aguilar-Beaucage came in relief and allowed just two hits, no runs, no walks and struck out 6.

Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Ann Pierson
Game 1
I was really pleased with our offense in Game 1 jumping out early. Taylor (Nowlin) did a really good job early on in the game and things got interesting in the last inning. We know that Bakersfield is a very scrappy, very emotional team and we know that they don't go away and that's exactly what we saw in the seventh inning.

Game 2
I felt like we were hitting the ball hard, but just had to keep pounding away at it. Mariah (Valencia) threw really good innings and 'Bo' (Aguilar-Beaucage) just came in and shut them down. Good defense overall on the night and the things that we have to have are our pitching is keeping us in the game and our defense is making plays when we need to and we've just got to keep swinging our bats. So we've got another tough game tomorrow and we've got to come back with the same energy.

Up Next
Grand Canyon will go for the sweep tomorrow night in its third and final game of the home series. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. MST