Lopes down Titans in extras

Saturday, March 17

Fullerton, CALIF.

10:30 AM

Grand Canyon

17-16

DePaul

17-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
DePaul	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	6	8	1
Grand Canyon	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	3	9	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	10	0
Cal State Fullerton	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	4	6	1

Photo by: Josh Hauser

3/17/2018 3:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Morrison claims second win of weekend

By: Sarah Woodward

FULLERTON, Calif. – A second stellar pitching outing from freshman Yesenia Morrison and a tough defense helped the Grand Canyon softball team down Cal State Fullerton, 5-4, in eight innings on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Family Field. GCU (18-16) finished the weekend 2-2 after falling to DePaul (17-9) and beating Cal State Fullerton (12-15).

GAME ONE
DePaul took an early lead with a two-out RBI single to left field in the first inning. The Blue Demons added a run with an RBI full count walk in the top of the third frame to go ahead, 2-0.

The Lopes tied the game in the bottom of the third frame as Madelyn Dowdle led off with a double and Shea Smith followed it with a single to put two runners on base. A two RBI single to second base from Sierra Smith scored Dowdle, while a throwing error from the DePaul catcher sent Shea Smith home for the game-tying run.

DePaul went ahead again with a lead-off home run to left center field in the top of the fifth frame.

Niki Gonzalez tied the game with an RBI double to left field to send Laynee Gomez home for the 3-3 tie game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Blue Demons battled back, adding three runs in the top of the seventh frame with two outs on the board. The Lopes couldn't answer in the bottom half, as GCU fell to DePaul, 6-3.

Loriann Olson was 2-4 on the day, while Gomez was 2-3 with a double. Gonzalez and Dowdle each had a double as well. Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage (8-10) dished out five strikeouts on the game.

GAME TWO
GCU started game two with fire, as the Lopes tacked four early runs on the board in the top of the first to take the lead. Jordon Keeton's RBI single sent Shea Smith home for the first run, while an error from the Titans allowed Sierra Smith to come home for the 2-0 lead.

Gonzalez hit a 2 RBI double down the right field line to send Gomez and Keeton home for the 4-0 GCU lead.

Cal State Fullerton brought in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth frame to cut the Lopes lead, 4-2.

The Titans continued the scoring in the bottom of the sixth, as Cal State Fullerton used a 2 RBI single up the middle to score two runners for the 4-4 tie game.
An RBI single from Gonzalez sent pinch runner Taylor Tetone across home plate for the lead, 5-4, in the top of the eighth. CSUF was unable to answer in the bottom of the frame, and the Lopes finished with the extra-inning win and the 2-2 weekend record.

Morrison (3-2) claimed her second win on the weekend, while Dowdle was 2-2 and the pair of Olson and Gonzalez were both 2-4.

GCU returns home to host Utah in a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday. Game times are set for Noon (MST) and 2 p.m. and admission is free.