Lopes down Wildcats in extra innings

Sunday, February 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

12:00 PM

Grand Canyon

3-3

Weber State

2-3

Grand Canyon

Weber State

2/11/2018 3:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU closes tournament with victory

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon softball team closed out the GCU Kickoff Tournament on a high note, as the Lopes (3-3) downed Weber State (2-3), 7-4, in eight innings of play at GCU Softball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Senior Niki Gonzalez opened scoring for the Lopes in the second inning with a solo home run, her first of the season, over the center field wall. Gonzalez was 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI.

Sophomore Loriann Olson tallied a base hit to third and advanced to second on a throwing error to move into scoring position to start the fourth inning. Senior Laynee Gomez tallied an RBI single to left center to bring Olson home for the game-tying score before redshirt senior Kendsey Hill hit her own RBI single to bring Gomez home from second base for the 3-2 lead.

Olson was 2-for-5, while Gomez was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Lopes stretched the lead in the fifth inning, as junior Sierra Smith reached on a fielder's choice with two outs against the Lopes. The error by the shortstop allowed Olson to make it to third and junior Shea Smith to make it home for the fourth run of the game for GCU.

Shea finished the day 2-for-5, while Sierra was 1-for-4.

The Lopes clinched the game in the eighth inning with three runs before retiring three batters in a row in the bottom of the frame for the victory.

The Lopes take to the road for the first time this season, as GCU heads to the Mary Nutter Tournament in Cathedral City, California. Grand Canyon will meet Stanford, Arkansas, UC Riverside, Syracuse and UCLA over a span of three days.