Gomez walk-off single splits doubleheader

Friday, April 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

5:00 PM

Grand Canyon

21-21, 0

New Mexico State

22-15, 0

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

Photo by: Travis Neely

4/13/2018 9:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes come back in final inning

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Senior center fielder Laynee Gomez went 5-7 on the day and tallied the walk-off RBI base-hit to help the Grand Canyon softball team serve New Mexico State its first conference loss of the season, as GCU (22-21, 3-4 WAC) downed the Aggies (22-16, 7-1 WAC), 5-4, in game two of the Friday doubleheader. NMSU claimed game one, 6-5, despite a late rally from the Lopes.

"We're super happy to come away with a split," head coach Ann Pierson said. "Bo (Aguilar-Beaucage) threw a good game and Yesenia threw a good game. We had opportunities on offense that we need take advantage of, and that's fine.

"I was really pleased with the overall fight and energy in innings one through seven in both games. I haven't seen that out of this team for quite awhile. I was really happy with their approach, with their excitement to be back home and to be playing such a great opponent with New Mexico State," Pierson said. "I was really pleased with their aggressive plan on defense, on the mound and certainly at the plate. We're looking forward to another good game tomorrow and I'm really proud of the girls and everything they did tonight to compete and fight."

GAME ONE
New Mexico State used a lead-off triple and an RBI groundout to take an early lead in the top of the second, but a 2 RBI triple down the right field line from junior Madelyn Dowdle put GCU on top, 2-1, at the end of the second frame.

NMSU tied the game in the next half inning with a solo home run, before adding four more runs in the third to lead GCU, 6-2.

A two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth frame began with a Kendsey Hill RBI groundout to send Gomez home from third base, bringing the Lopes within three. Loriann Olson followed with a 2 RBI single to near right field to bring GCU within one, 6-5.

The rally fell short for the Lopes, and GCU dropped game one. The pair of Gomez and Bianca Boling were 2-3 on the game, while Olson was 1-4 with two RBI and Dowdle was 1-2 with two RBI.

Junior Sierra Smith was 1-3 with a double, while senior Niki Gonzalez went 1-3. Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage (9-13) dished out a trio of strikeouts in the loss.

GAME TWO
New Mexico State used a bases-clearing two-out triple down the right field line and an RBI single up the middle to take a 3-0 lead over the Lopes in the top of the fourth frame.

GCU came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth, as Dowdle nailed an RBI single through the shortstop gap to send Gomez home from second base.

NMSU capitalized on a GCU error to send a fourth run home in the top of the seventh frame to go ahead, 4-1.

Taylor Kaye started the momentum in the final half inning with a lead-off single, before Olson reached on a fielder's choice and Kaye advanced on an error. Double trouble from the Smith twins plated three runs to tie the game, 4-4, as Shea hit a 2 RBI double up the middle and Sierra hit an RBI single to left field.

Gomez sealed the walk-off win with an RBI single up the middle to send Shea home for the game-winning run.

Gomez finished the game 3-4 with a run and an RBI, while Gonzalez was a perfect 3-3 with a run. Kaye (2-4) and Sierra Smith (2-4) also had multiple hit games, while Shea Smith tallied two RBI in the Lopes seventh-inning comeback.

Freshman right-hander Yesenia Morrison (6-3) dealt three strikeouts in her complete-game victory over the Aggies.

The pair return for the series finale tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. (MST) at GCU Softball Stadium. Admission to all GCU Softball games is free of charge.