Offense secures pair of wins

Saturday, March 16

Phoenix, Ariz.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-13

Ohio State

15-8

Ohio State

Grand Canyon

3/16/2019 8:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes down Ohio State, Weber State

By: Sarah Woodward

The Grand Canyon softball team finished the first day of the GCU Invitational perfect with wins over Ohio State (15-8) and Weber State (7-15). The Lopes (16-13) started the night with a come-from-behind win to take down Ohio State, 8-7, before shutting out Weber State, 2-0, to start the weekend in the win column.

GAME ONE
Ohio State used two runs in the top of the third and four in the top of the fourth to lead GCU, 6-0.

Freshman Savannah Tourville answered with a 2 RBI double to right field, sending Shea Smith and Sierra Smith home from third and first, respectively, to cut the OSU lead.

Sophomore pinch hitter Lilly Bishop continued the scoring with a bases-clearing double to left center field to plate three Lopes, putting GCU behind by one run, 6-5.

The Buckeyes plated a seventh and final runner in the top of the fifth frame to take a two-run lead, but three-run bottom half of the frame gave GCU a one-run win.

After Shea Smith reached on an error and advanced to second, she was moved to third with a groundout to get into scoring position. A passed ball sent her home for the one-run game.

Tourville earned a two-out walk and junior designated player Jordon Keeton sent her home with a double to center field. Sophomore catcher Kaileigh Holland was also walked, while a single through the left side from senior outfielder Maddie Dowdle plated Keeton Tourville for the 8-7 lead.

Three 1-2-3 innings for sophomore pitcher Ryan Denhart (4-3) sat the Buckeyes down and secured the victory for GCU.

GAME TWO
The Lopes started off game two with an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shea Smith picked up the first run of the game, stealing home on a throwing error by Weber State's catcher. Another error from Weber State put Tourville on base and sent Sierra Smith home to put the Lopes up 2-0 at the end of the first.

GCU held the Wildcats scoreless through six and a half innings, leaving eight Weber State runners on base.

Yessie Morrison (5-4) got the start for GCU, pitching four innings and throwing three strikeouts before being relieved by Lexy Coons. Coons finished out the final three innings, allowing only two hits and one strikeout to earn the save.

The Lopes return to GCU Softball Stadium on Sunday for two more games against Ohio State and Weber State. GCU looks to sweep again as they take on the Buckeyes at 10 a.m. (MST) and the Wildcats at 12:30 p.m.