GCU travels to Baylor for tourney


Grand Canyon Lopes (1-5)	vs	Western Illinois Leathernecks (1-4)	Baylor Bears (2-2)	Prairie View A&M Panthers (1-4)
		Friday, Feb. 14 11:30 a.m. (Phoenix time)	Friday, Feb. 14 5:30 p.m. (Phoenix time)	Saturday, Feb. 15 10 a.m (Phoenix time)
Game Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon softball team hits the road for the first time this season in this weekend's Getterman Classic at Baylor. The Lopes will open the tournament Friday with Western Illinois at 11:30 a.m. (Phoenix time). GCU will also square up against Baylor and Prairie View A&M.

The games will be streamed live on FloSoftball.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

FRESHMEN STAND OUT: Center fielder Mickey Covarrubio and designed player Olivia Zufelt made the most of their opening weekends as the two combined for 11 hits and eight RBIs. Covarrubio started five games for the Lopes and leads the team in batting average (.438). Zufelt came up clutch in the Lopes' first win of the season with a three-run, pinch-hit double and followed with a walk-off home run against New Mexico.
PITCHING RETURNS: The Lopes return all four of their pitchers from last season, as well as adding a freshman into the mix. Junior Ryan Denhart was named WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
ANOTHER TOUGH SCHEDULE: For the third season in a row, the Lopes will play a difficult schedule. Throughout the season, GCU will play 10 of the 2019 NCAA tournament's teams, including a Women's College World Series participant.

SCOUTING

Baylor is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association coaches' poll after the Bears went 2-2 at the Lead Off Classic in Clearwater, Florida. Baylor opened with an 8-0 upset of No. 23 Auburn. Gia Rodoni was the Bears go-to pitcher in their opening weekend, posting a 1-1 record and a 2.33 ERA. Freshman Emily Hott got off to a hot start as she leads Baylor in batting average, hitting .429 with an on-base percentage of .600.

Prairie View A&M opened up its season at the McNeese State Tournament. The Panthers won their opening game over Arkansas-Pine Bluff but dropped the following four. Senior Alyssa Garcia leads Prarie View at the plate after one weekend, hitting .333.

Western Illinois comes into the Getterman Classic with a record of 1-4 after competing in the Rambler Rumble last weekend. Abby Carlin picked up the Leathernecks' first win of the season by throwing a complete game against Wisconsin-Green Bay. Junior Ashley Minyard is hitting a team-high .308 after starting in all five games.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU and Baylor met once in 2017, when the Bears defeated the Lopes 1-0 at home on a sixth-inning score.
The Lopes will have their first meetings with Prairie View A&M and Western Illinois this weekend.

WHAT'S NEXT

GCU returns home to host the GCU Purple Classic on Feb. 21-23. The tournament will include Drake, Utah State and CSU Northridge.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mickey Covarrubio

Ryan Denhart

Olivia Zufelt

Grand Canyon University Athletics