GCU set for final home weekend of 2017

FRIDAY, APRIL 21- SATURDAY, APRIL 22
UVU WOLVERINES 12-17 (4-5 WAC) SERIES RELEASE	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES 31-14 (6-3 WAC) SERIES RELEASE

GAME ONE	GAME TWO	GAME THREE
Friday, 5 p.m. MST	Friday, 7:30 p.m. MST	Saturday, 5 p.m. MST
Stats	Stats	Stats

GCU hosts its final home games of the 2017 campaign as they welcome Utah Valley to Phoenix on April 21-22.

The Lopes will play a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 21 at 5 p.m. MST and 7:30. GCU will finish the series on Saturday, Apr.22 at 5. A Senior Day celebration will happen at the conclusion of Saturday's series finale.

LEADING OFF

Last season the Lopes swept the series against Utah Valley bringing the all-time head-to-head record to 9-0 in favor of GCU. Over the span of the nine wins, GCU has outscored the Wolverines, 100-35.

GCU leads the WAC in several team and individual statistical categories. The Lopes lead in ERA (2.87), Fielding Percentage (.969), Runs Scored (234) and Doubles (69). Niki Gonzalez leads in doubles (15), and Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage leads in Runs (40), Home runs (2) and Triples allowed (0). Taylor Nowlin is head of the ERA (2.87), Strikeouts (131) and Opponent Batting Average (.228) categories.

GCU continues to rank nationally on the NCAA leader boards. Gonzalez is tied for eighth in doubles with 15. Camree Wartman is tied for No. 15 in triples with five and Nowlin is tied for No. 25 in wins. As a team the Lopes are tied for No.22 in Batting Average at .317 as well as tied for ninth in doubles with 69.

Sierra Smith was runner-up for WAC Hitter of the Week after her impressive series last weekend. Smith hit .556 with a double, triple and five RBI. Shea Smith also had a productive series her last time out as she hit one homerun and had five RBI.

Senior LHP Taylor Nowlin was honored as WAC Pitcher of the week for the eighth time in her career after going 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 16 strikeouts against CSUB. She had a complete-game victory during her first game and took a no-hitter into the fifth and final inning during her second game when she gave up her only hit. Her 131 strikeouts this season almost double the next closest pitcher in the WAC.

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
The Lopes earned their second straight series win against conference opponents last weekend when they swept CSU Bakersfield. The opening game would prove to be a one run affair with GCU escaping on top 5-4 while the next two were handled in commanding fashion with final scores of 7-3 and 11-0.

During the series the offense was powered by Sierra Smith who hit .556 with a double, triple and five RBI while Shea Smith added five more RBI and a homerun to the mix.

Nowlin ended the series with a one-hitter on Saturday and struck out seven in five innings.

Sizing up the Opponents

Scouting UVU

Grand Canyon will meet Utah Valley for the 10th time in program history. The Lopes hold the advantage in the all-time series at 9-0. The Wolverines sit at 12-17 on the season and 4-5 in conference play.
Brittney Vansway leads the Wolverines with a .402 batting average in 29 games. She also leads the squad with six doubles, eight homers and 43 RBI.
In the circle, Lauren Frailey (9-6) owns a team leading 2.63 ERA (35 ER in 93.0 IP). Owning nine of UVU's 12 victories on the season, she has accumulated nine complete games, including two shutouts on the season. She also leads the squad with 35 strikeouts.
Head coach TJ Hubbard is in his first season at the helm of the UVU softball program. With stops at Kansas, Louisiana and North Texas, Hubbard is the fifth head coach in UVU's NCAA Division I history.

Up Next
GCU will travel for the remaining six contests. First stop, the Lopes will meet with the New Mexico State Aggies in Las Cruces, N.M. for a three-game series. The series will begin Friday, April 28 at 5 p.m. MST before concluding with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29. Grand Canyon will have a quick turnaround for a few mid-week action games against No.10 Utah and No.21 BYU to conclude the 2017 season.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brianna Aguilar

Jenna Coates

Niki Gonzalez

Taylor Nowlin

Shea Smith

Sierra Smith

Camree Wartman

Grand Canyon University Athletics