Lopes split final day of tourney

Sunday, February 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

6-7

Boise State

10-2

Boise State

Grand Canyon

2/24/2019 4:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU tops Yale 6-3 to close home tournament

By: Cassidy Mace

Grand Canyon softball finished the GCU Purple Classic with a 6-3 win over Yale on Sunday, improving its record to 7-7 on the season.

Senior Shea Smith was a star for the Lopes on Sunday with her sixth career triple, tying her for third in the GCU record books. The shortstop recorded four hits on the day, including one of the Lopes' four hits in an 8-0 loss to Boise State (10-2) earlier Sunday.

"Overall, I'm really happy with the weekend," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "To come out of here 3-1 against four very tough opponents, I'm really pleased with the overall outcome. We got to see a lot of great things out of the pitching staff, minus the Boise State game. It was really impressive to watch Lexy (Coons) come in and not only hold teams, but keep us in there until our offense could come in and do something, get runs back, and get a lead. She was just tough as nails on the mound.

"Ryan (Denhart) had a great game against North Dakota with her 14 strikeouts. It's the same thing with Yessie (Morrison), as she continues to frustrate teams with her movement and change of speeds. I was really pleased with the staff. Shea (Smith) had a great weekend, Sierra (Smith) had a great weekend, and we saw Taylor Olsen come in and get some opportunities at first base and she did a good job. We just have a few things we still have to shore up. It's early in the season and we're playing like it's early in the season, so we just have to continue to work on just being better with the fundamentals overall so we can be more consistent."

Yale (0-4) started strongly on offense, scoring all three of its runs in the top of the first inning. Coons, a freshman, relieved Denhart, a sophomore, and wound up with a win and three strikeouts, bring her strikeout total to 24 this season.

Shea Smith attempted to answer the Bulldogs' early lead with a single to left center, sending freshman right fielder Gianna Nicoletti home in the bottom of the first. The Lopes put two more batters on base in the bottom of the inning but stranded them to leave the Yale lead at 3-1.

GCU tightened its defense in the second, setting Yale down in order. Freshman designated hitter Taylor Olsen grabbed a double, her first at GCU, in the bottom half but she was stranded.

The Lopes put their second run on the board during the third inning as sophomore catcher Kaileigh Holland led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on a single from Shea Smith. Senior third basmean Sierra Smith drove her home with a sacrifice RBI fly ball to right field, cutting Yale's lead to one heading into the fourth.

After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, Shea Smith made two big plays for the Lopes on offense in the bottom of the fifth. The senior tripled and scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3 heading into the sixth inning.

GCU sophomore Lilly Bishop put the Lopes ahead in the bottom of the sixth with her first home run as a Lope on a pinch-hit opportunity. It gave the Lopes a 4-3 lead with no outs in the inning. Two more GCU batters reached base, as freshman second baseman Savannah Tourville and Olsen each put up a single. Senior left fielder Maddie Dowdle sent another single up the middle to send freshman pinch runner Christine Bellavia home for the Lopes fifth run. Olsen also made her way home after an RBI grounder from Nicoletti, giving GCU a 6-3 lead heading to the final inning.

Shea Smith secured the GCU win with a jumping catch at shortstop for the final out of the game.

The Lopes return to action next weekend as they host the Lopes Up Classic, featuring Iowa State, South Dakota, Northern Colorado and Utah. GCU kicks off the tournament on Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Utah.