Lopes split opening doubleheader

Thursday, February 7

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0

Charlotte

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Charlotte	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	1
Grand Canyon	0	1	2	0	1	0	X	4	6	0

2/7/2019 10:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Coons earns 1st win at home vs. Charlotte

By: Sarah Woodward

The Grand Canyon softball team earned its fourth straight season-opening win on Thursday against Charlotte, as the Lopes split with the 49ers in a doubleheader at GCU Softball Stadium.

GCU took the first win of the night in a 4-3 decision over Charlotte. The Lopes' win was powered by a home run apiece from senior third baseman Sierra Smith and freshman second baseman Savannah Tourville, a Phoenix native starting in her collegiate debut.

"I'm happy with the first win," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "I thought Lexy (Coons) did a great job coming in and shutting them down and the offense battled back. We got to see some good things out of Savannah – first hit, first home run. She really did a great job stepping in at second base. Kaylee (Dietrich) did a great job behind the plate and Sierra starting off her season with a home run is always a great thing."

Senior shortstop Shea Smith got the Lopes started on offense, recording the first hit of the season with a double to left center in the bottom of the first. Charlotte put the first runs on the board with two home runs in the second inning, but GCU answered with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from sophomore Kaileigh Holland to bring freshman designated hitter Taylor Olsen to score.

The Lopes kept Charlotte scoreless for the remainder of the game and Sierra Smith tied it up with a two-run home run in the third. Tourville secured the lead for GCU with a home run to left field in the fifth inning, putting the Lopes ahead 4-3.

Coons earned her first win of the season with six strikeouts, while allowing just two hits in 5.1 innings of work.

The Lopes carried the momentum into game two, allowing only one run in the first five innings. Charlotte was the first team on the board with another home run in the top of the third, but Dietrich answered for the Lopes with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, putting GCU up 2-1.

Dietrich added another RBI, putting a single up the middle to send Shea Smith home in the bottom of the fifth. The 49ers rallied in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits to go up 5-3 entering the final inning.

After another run from Charlotte in the top of the seventh, Holland gave the Lopes hope with a two-run homer to pull GCU within one. Sophomore Taylor Tetone tried to push the momentum with a fly ball to center field, but the 49ers got the out to finalize a 6-5 win.

"I was disappointed in game two," Pierson said. "I felt like we sat back a little bit and we didn't have enough in any area. We have to learn to put games away when we have chances to. We have to work on getting better at the plate. We have a lot of learning to do and a lot of things to shore up, but we have a lot of games left. We'll get back after it tomorrow and see what we're going to do against Oklahoma."

GCU is back in action Friday night as the Lopes host No. 4 Oklahoma at 5 p.m. for Faith and Family Night.