Completed Event: Softball at Colorado State on May 2, 2026 , Win , 11, to, 2 , (5 inn.)
Softball
at Colorado State
W 11-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Tuesday, March 6
Phoenix, Ariz.
1:00 PM
Grand Canyon
13-10
2
vs
1
Valparaiso
9-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Grand Canyon | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Lopes sweep Crusaders in midweek matchup
3/6/2018 5:33:00 PM | Softball
Strong pitching propels GCU
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Led by a combined 12 strikeouts on the day from freshman Alexa Coons and sophomore Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage, the Grand Canyon softball team defeated Valparaiso (9-6) twice for a midweek sweep at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes (14-10) downed the Crusaders 2-1 in game one and 6-2 in game two..
"Great two wins against a very strong, very athletic Valpo team. We knew that from watching them in the tournament," head coach Ann Pierson said. "We knew we were going to have to go out and battle to get these two wins. They have a great pitching staff in their number one that threw in game one.
"I was really pleased with our offense. We left too many people on base, but we went to our strengths which is putting the ball on the ground and using our speed. Our defense was excellent... flawless. Lexy (Coons) pitched one of her best games thus far. She kept the batters off balance, she located well, she was working behind a little bit, but then she would come back and start pounding the zone. I was really pleased with her.
"Laynee (Gomez) made a game-saving catch in the outfield to finish out a tight game," Pierson said. "The next game, Bobo (Aguilar-Beaucage) came out and threw easily the best game she's thrown up until this point. Seven strikeouts with a drop-ball pitcher is interesting and her change up and off speed were both working - she was able to throw those two pitches a lot.
"We got on the board quickly in the first inning, which is always helpful for the pitching staff. We just kept swinging out bats, and it was good to have Niki (Gonzalez) hit one out and see some of the other kids really working on their offense and getting things done."
GAME ONE
An infield single from Loriann Olson and a double to left center field from Shea Smith put two Lopes on base to start the third frame. Laynee Gomez singled to load the bases for GCU before Jordon Keeton tallied an RBI infield single to put the Lopes up, 1-0.
GCU added another run with an RBI groundout from Niki Gonzalez, sending Sierra Smith home for the score and the 2-0 lead after three frames.
The Crusaders came back in the top of the sixth frame with a two-out RBI single to left field to cut the Lopes lead, 2-1.
The Lopes defense held strong through the rest of the game and a running catch in deep center field from Gomez gave GCU the victory in game one, 2-1.
Freshman Alexa Coons (7-1) dished out five strikeouts while allowing four hits and two walks in the seven-inning victory.
GAME TWO
A duo of two-out singles from Sierra Smith and Gomez put two runners on for the Lopes in the bottom of the first before an RBI single down the right field line from Keeton put the Lopes on the board early, 1-0.
Gonzalez and Boling continued the two-out momentum, as Gonzalez tallied a double to center field to bring Gomez home for the score and the RBI while Boling followed with a 2 RBI double to right center to put GCU up, 4-0.
Valparaiso smacked a home run over the back wall to prevent the shutout in the top of the fourth and cut the Lopes lead, 4-1.
GCU increased its lead in the bottom of the sixth frame with a two-out home run from Gonzalez to bring pinch hitter Kendsey Hill home for the score and the 6-1 Lopes lead. The yard ball was the fifth for Gonzalez this season.
The Crusaders managed an RBI single in the top of the seventh, but the GCU defense shut it down to claim the 6-2 victory.
Sophomore Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage (6-6) earned the win with a season-best seven strikeouts on the game.
Gonzalez was 2-4 on the game with three RBI, a pair of runs, a double and a homer. Junior Madelyn Dowdle was 2-3.
GCU is home for another tournament next weekend, as the Lopes host Georgetown, Minnesota and Iowa in the GCU Invitational beginning on Friday.
"Great two wins against a very strong, very athletic Valpo team. We knew that from watching them in the tournament," head coach Ann Pierson said. "We knew we were going to have to go out and battle to get these two wins. They have a great pitching staff in their number one that threw in game one.
"I was really pleased with our offense. We left too many people on base, but we went to our strengths which is putting the ball on the ground and using our speed. Our defense was excellent... flawless. Lexy (Coons) pitched one of her best games thus far. She kept the batters off balance, she located well, she was working behind a little bit, but then she would come back and start pounding the zone. I was really pleased with her.
"Laynee (Gomez) made a game-saving catch in the outfield to finish out a tight game," Pierson said. "The next game, Bobo (Aguilar-Beaucage) came out and threw easily the best game she's thrown up until this point. Seven strikeouts with a drop-ball pitcher is interesting and her change up and off speed were both working - she was able to throw those two pitches a lot.
"We got on the board quickly in the first inning, which is always helpful for the pitching staff. We just kept swinging out bats, and it was good to have Niki (Gonzalez) hit one out and see some of the other kids really working on their offense and getting things done."
GAME ONE
An infield single from Loriann Olson and a double to left center field from Shea Smith put two Lopes on base to start the third frame. Laynee Gomez singled to load the bases for GCU before Jordon Keeton tallied an RBI infield single to put the Lopes up, 1-0.
GCU added another run with an RBI groundout from Niki Gonzalez, sending Sierra Smith home for the score and the 2-0 lead after three frames.
The Crusaders came back in the top of the sixth frame with a two-out RBI single to left field to cut the Lopes lead, 2-1.
The Lopes defense held strong through the rest of the game and a running catch in deep center field from Gomez gave GCU the victory in game one, 2-1.
Freshman Alexa Coons (7-1) dished out five strikeouts while allowing four hits and two walks in the seven-inning victory.
GAME TWO
A duo of two-out singles from Sierra Smith and Gomez put two runners on for the Lopes in the bottom of the first before an RBI single down the right field line from Keeton put the Lopes on the board early, 1-0.
Gonzalez and Boling continued the two-out momentum, as Gonzalez tallied a double to center field to bring Gomez home for the score and the RBI while Boling followed with a 2 RBI double to right center to put GCU up, 4-0.
Valparaiso smacked a home run over the back wall to prevent the shutout in the top of the fourth and cut the Lopes lead, 4-1.
GCU increased its lead in the bottom of the sixth frame with a two-out home run from Gonzalez to bring pinch hitter Kendsey Hill home for the score and the 6-1 Lopes lead. The yard ball was the fifth for Gonzalez this season.
The Crusaders managed an RBI single in the top of the seventh, but the GCU defense shut it down to claim the 6-2 victory.
Sophomore Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage (6-6) earned the win with a season-best seven strikeouts on the game.
Gonzalez was 2-4 on the game with three RBI, a pair of runs, a double and a homer. Junior Madelyn Dowdle was 2-3.
GCU is home for another tournament next weekend, as the Lopes host Georgetown, Minnesota and Iowa in the GCU Invitational beginning on Friday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Coons, Lexy (7-1)
L: Grossmann, Kenzie (5-2)
Batting:
RBI: Burke, Addi 1
SH: Lawson, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Trepanier, Carly 1
CS: Lawson, Taylor 1
HBP: Lawson, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Smith, Shea 1 ; Gonzalez, Niki 1 ; Dowdle, Maddie 1
RBI: Keeton, Jordon 1 ; Gonzalez, Niki 1
SH: Kaye, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Shea 1 ; Smith, Sierra 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
P/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball2B/OF
/ SoftballSS
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballTuesday, June 09
Thursday, May 21
Monday, May 18
Sunday, May 17