Lopes dominate in series opener

Friday, April 7

Kansas City, Mo.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

27-13, 0

UMKC

10-26, 0

Grand Canyon

UMKC

4/7/2017 5:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

KANSAS CITY -- The Grand Canyon softball program dominated on the opening day of series play dropping UMKC in a 9-0 shutout win. The Lopes improve to 27-13 on the season and 2-2 in WAC play.

The Lopes had a 10-hit day with two multiple-run innings to seal the win.

LHP Taylor Nowlin had a day, throwing a 2-hitter with nine strikeouts, three walks en route to her third shutout of the season.

How it Happened
The Lopes started hot as Niki Gonzalez blasted the ball to left center for the leadoff double to immediately threaten. Laynee Gomez sacrificed herself to move Gonzalez over and Shea Smith followed putting the ball on the ground plating Gonzalez to give GCU the 1-0 lead.

GCU carried momentum from the first over to the second adding one more to the tally due to a pair of Roo errors. Loriann Olson reached on a UMKC miscue and Megan Stevens followed with a bullet up the middle to threaten. Jenna Coates laid down the bunt sacrificing herself moving Olson and Stevens over. The Lopes went up two after UMKC dropped a fly ball in right field allowing GCU's second run to plate.

The Lopes' defense matched the intensity on offense as Nowlin threw two straight hitless innings to start the game off.

While a UMKC pitching change proved beneficial for UMKC in the third, Nowlin dominated in the home half of the inning. She struck out all three UMKC batters, leaving one stranded to keep the GCU lead at 2-0.

UMKC got some help from the Lopes' defense in the fourth as GCU found themselves in a bases loaded jam. The Lopes weren't phased turning a huge 6-2-3 double play as Shea Smith threw a bullet to Kendsey Hill who hit a turn sending the ball to first securing the first two-outs. Nowlin followed forcing the ground out, getting the Lopes out of the inning unscathed.

GCU had a few quiet innings before they found the spark they needed in the fifth as they plated two off consecutive Stevens and Jenna Coates homers. GCU bats came alive after Sierra Smith sent a hard hit ball up the middle. Wartman landed on base off a fielder's choice and Stevens followed hitting a bomb over the left field fence for the two-run homer, putting GCU up 4-0. But the Lopes weren't done as Jenna Coates sent a rocket over the center field fence to give GCU the 5-0 lead and garner her first homer of the season.

got some help from the Lopes' defense in the third as GCU found themselves in a bases loaded jam. The Lopes weren't phased turning a huge 6-2-3 double play as Shea Smith threw a bullet to Kendsey Hill who hit a turn sending the ball to first securing the first two-outs. Nowlin followed forcing the ground out, getting the Lopes out of the inning unscathed.

Nowlin and the defense continued the impressive performance in the fifth. She struckout all three Roo batter's for the second time in the contest, keeping GCU in front and getting the bats back up.

GCU started the sixth with a sense of urgency, putting up 4-runs from 2-hits to all but seal the victory. Three walks loaded the bases with just one out on the board leaving room for Wartman to deliver a run off a RBI single through the right side putting GCU up 6-0. The Lopes continued the high-power offense as Olson followed with a 2 RBI single to move the score to 8-0. GCU added the final run off a Roo error as Wartman bolted to home plate to end the inning with a 9-0 advantage.

It was all the GCU defense from then on, completing the shutout over UMKC as Nowlin delivered the dagger striking out the final UMKC batter to clinch Game 1 at 9-0.

Lopes Notes
Head Coach Ann Pierson
Today was a good day. I was really happy with our offense. We were aggressive and put some good swings on good pitches and were able to score runs. Jenna (Coates) and Megan (Stevens) really stepped up and helped us with back to back home runs. Taylor (Nowlin) threw a great game and kept hitters off balance. It was a solid team win. We have a very tough day tomorrow and will need to be at our best.

Up Next
The Lopes return to the field to finish out the series in a doubleheader clash. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m MST and 1.