GCU sweeps 1st day of tourney

Friday, March 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-7

Utah

5-12

Utah

Grand Canyon

3/1/2019 9:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes down Utah, South Dakota

By: Cassidy Mace

On its first day of the Lopes Up Classic, the Grand Canyon softball team downed Utah, 8-6, and shutout South Dakota, 3-0, to start the tournament undefeated at GCU Softball Stadium.

The Lopes (9-7) beat the Utes (5-12) for the second season in a row, while GCU downed the Coyotes (12-5) for the second time in three games.

GAME ONE
After a three, up three down start to the first inning, the Lopes took off to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Gianna Nicoletti reached base on a lead-off walk, to be sent home in the next at-bat by a double from sophomore Lilly Bishop.

GCU extended its lead in the second inning, as sophomore Kaileigh Holland and freshman Savanah Tourville got on base with a walk and a single, respectively. This set senior Maddie Dowdle up for a three-run homer to put the Lopes up 4-0 at the end of the second. The home run marks the first of the season for Dowdle.

Utah responded with four runs in the top of the third to tie the game, 4-4 before pulling ahead in the top of the fourth. GCU sent in sophomore Lexy Coons in relief to close out the game.

Tourville answered for the Lopes in the bottom of the fourth, sending her third home run of the season over the left field wall. GCU held the Utes without any hits in the top of the fifth as Coons grabbed her second strikeout of the game to send GCU to the bottom of the fifth.

The Lopes got their bats going again in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits and one error. With senior Shea Smith and freshman Taylor Olsen on base, senior Sierra Smith sent Shea home with an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Sophomore Kaylee Dietrich put the Lopes in the lead with a pinch hit two-run home run, sending pinch runner Taylor Tetone home to plate two and put GCU up 8-6 at the end of the fifth.

After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, Coons (4-2) and the Lopes defense finished the game the same way they started it with three batters up and three batters down in the top of the seventh.

GAME TWO
Sierra Smith recorded GCU's first hit of the game with a single up the middle in the top of the second inning. An error and a walk placed Smith in scoring position, but the Lopes were unable to bring her home, keeping the score 0-0 at the end of the second.

Nicoletti hit a single into left to start the third inning, advancing on the throw to place herself on second. Bishop followed up with another single to place Nicoletti in scoring position, allowing her to score on a sacrifice fly from Shea Smith.

Olsen gave the Lopes another single, setting up pinch runner Tetone to score on the next at-bat, an RBI single from Tourville.

The Lopes went three up, three down yet again at the bottom of the third, giving GCU the 2-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Tourville recorded her second RBI of the game in the fifth inning, sending Sierra Smith home on a double to left field to put GCU ahead, 3-0.

Neither team were able to put runs on the board in the sixth and seventh innings, as the Lopes came away with the shutout victory.

GCU returns for day two of the Lopes Up Classic on Saturday, taking on South Dakota and Iowa State at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.