GCU drops 2 to open Purple Classic

Friday, February 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-10

Drake

6-6

Drake

Grand Canyon

2/22/2020 12:28:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Grand Canyon opened the GCU Purple Classic against Drake on Friday with a late rally that came up short in an 11-6 loss and a 7-0 loss to Utah State in the nightcap at GCU Softball Stadium.

The Bulldogs struck first in the Lopes' tournament opener, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning. They added another four runs to their lead in the fourth before GCU got on the board when Lopes junior first baseman Lilly Bishop hit a rocket over the center-field fence in the bottom of the fourth.

A single up the middle by freshman second baseman Kristin Fifield, who went 3 for 4, jump-started the Lopes offense in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman centerfielder Mickey Covarrubio picked up the first of her two hits in the game with a single up the middle to load the bases for GCU. The Lopes scored two runs off a third single up the middle by a third freshman, right fielder Jaiden Reid. Sophomore shortstop Savannah Tourville singled up the middle,, scoring Covarrubio, and GCU made it a four-run fifth inning when freshman designed player Olivia Zufelt singled to left field to score Reid and cut Drake's lead to 7-5.

Drake responded in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on two hits for a 9-5 lead.

Once again, Fifield singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Lopes. Sophomore third baseman Taylor Olson reached on a fielder's choice and scored off of a single through the left side by Reid to make the Bulldogs lead 9-6. Reid finished the game with three RBIs on 2-for-4 hitting.

In the top of the seventh, Drake added two more runs.

Lopes shut out by Utah State

The Aggies jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning and adding three more in the second.

Junior pitcher Lexy Coons came in to pitch for the Lopes in the bottom of the third inning and kept Utah State off balance for her first 2 1/3 innings.

Utah State extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring two more runs.

Bishop followed up her first-game home run with a 2-for-3 second game.

GCU will continue with the Purple Classic on Saturday, taking on Drake at 4:30 p.m. and Utah State at 6:30 p.m.