GCU opens stadium with sweet sweep

Thursday, February 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

5:30 PM

Grand Canyon

1-0

Montana

0-1

Montana

Grand Canyon

2/8/2018 10:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes take two from reigning Big Sky Champs

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - In front of a sellout crowd of 1,249, the Lopes opened GCU Softball Stadium with a doubleheader sweep of Montana on Thursday evening. Grand Canyon claimed wins by scores of 6-2 and 5-2.

"We couldn't have scripted opening a brand new stadium any better than we did," head coach Ann Pierson said. "The crowd, the fans, the alumni that were out here, it was so special for all of us to be a part of it. The alumni are really proud of saying that they're a part of GCU, and then they come out to our new stadium and they watch this team and they're so excited.

"To come out and win two games against a very strong opponent in Montana, it was a great night," Pierson said. "Bobo (Aguilar-Beaucage) threw a great game in game one, the defense played well, our offense came alive. In game two, it was really fun to watch Lexy (Coons) get out there and get her first collegiate win.

"Sierra (Smith) put a great swing on a great pitch and it was great timing with the bases loaded. I'm really proud of the kids and their energy all night long to get the first two wins."

GAME 1
The Lopes did all the damage they needed in the third and fourth innings, scoring all six of their runs on nine combined hits and cruising to a 6-2 win in the season opener.

GCU starting pitcher Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage started off the season on the right note, going the full 7.0 innings and allowing just one earned run. Aguilar-Beaucage struck out five while walking just one, picking up the win.

Offensively, the first three batters of the GCU lineup – Shea Smith, Loriann Olson and Niki Gonzalez – combined to go 7-for-11. Olson was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Gonzalez had a team-leading three RBIs.

Aguilar-Beaucage faced the minimum over the first three innings. The right-hander struck out the side in the first inning before drawing double plays to erase leadoff runners in the second and third innings.

The first third of the GCU lineup got the Lopes offense churning in the home-half of the third inning. Shea Smith and Olson both recorded hits, paving the way for Gonzalez to drive in two runs on a double to put the Lopes on the board for the first time in 2018. Laynee Gomez and Kendsey Hill cleaned things up with RBI singles to put GCU in front 4-0.

Montana scored its first run in the top of the fourth, but Grand Canyon responded by picking up two more runs in the ensuing frame on RBI singles by Gonzalez and Sierra Smith.

Six runs was all GCU needed, holding Montana to one additional tally in the sixth.

Throughout the game, the Lopes used timely defensive plays to make sure Montana didn't exceed two runs. Maddie Dowdle made a diving grab in left field, while Sierra Smith keyed an impressive 5-3 double play to end the game.

The Lopes claimed their season opener for the third consecutive season.

GAME 2

Sierra Smith hit the first GCU home run of the season. It happened to be a grand slam that quickly sealed the second win of the evening for the Lopes. The fifth-inning blast to right-center field turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead.

A look at the blast. #LopesRising pic.twitter.com/k9KDRwPQ8e
— GCU Softball (@GCU_Softball) February 9, 2018

Freshman pitcher Alexa Coons constantly worked her way out of jams throughout the night to help limit the Grizzlies to just two runs in the contest. In her first collegiate appearance, Coons finished with 7.0 innings of five-hit work, allowing two earned runs and striking out eight.

The two teams traded runs in the middle innings. Montana struck first in the top of the third.

GCU scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Dowdle doubled to drive in Sierra Smith and tie the score at 1-1.

Montana reclaimed its lead with a run in the fifth, until Sierra Smith put the Lopes up for good. Taylor Kaye and Shea Smith both recorded bunt singles while Olson also singled to load up the bases. On the first pitch she saw, Sierra Smith hit her 10th career home run to put the Lopes up for good.

The competition gets tougher for the Lopes, hosting the reigning national champions and No. 1-ranked Oklahoma on Friday night. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. on YurView Arizona, ESPN3 and GCU.tv.