Bishop knocks 5 hits in GCU split

Friday, February 28

Fullerton, Calif.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-13

Colorado State

9-6

Grand Canyon

Colorado State

2/28/2020 6:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU downs Cal Poly after loss to Colorado State

FULLERTON, Calif. — Grand Canyon bounced back with a 6-4 win against Cal Poly on Friday night at the Judi Garman Classic after opening the tournament with a 6-2 loss to Colorado State.

"Today was a good day," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "We started out a little rough and had pieces of the game working. But as it's been up to this point, we're trying to find a way to get all cylinders clicking together. We're learning how the little things come back to bite us and we need to cut that part out. The second game was a true team win. Yessie (Morrison) threw a very good game and Ryan (Denhart) came in to hold and close it out. Both kids did a great job."

Holland knocks in 3 vs. Cal Poly

After two scoreless innings of play, the Lopes struck first against Cal Poly in the top of the third. Freshman second baseman Araceli Pesqueira reached on an error and moved to third just in time to score on a single from GCU junior first baseman Lilly Bishop, who had a career-high three hits in the game and went 5 for 6 on Friday.

The Mustangs answered in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run home run after a Lopes error.

GCU sophomore left fielder Gianna Nicoletti led off the fourth with a single up the middle and was followed by back-to-back singles from sophomore third baseman Taylor Olsen and Pesqueira. Nicoletti scored on a throwing error to tie the score at 2-2.

Bishop doubled down the left-field line to get the Lopes started in the top of the fifth. Nicoletti singled through the left side with two outs. Junior catcher Kaileigh Holland singled up the middle to score Nicoletti, giving GCU a 3-2 lead.

Cal Poly responded in the bottom of fifth with back-to-back solo home runs to recapture the lead at 4-3.

The Lopes fought back in the top of the seventh, when freshman shortstop Kristin Fifield led off with a double to right-center field. After Bishop walked and freshman Olivia Zufelt's sacrificed, Holland scored smacked a two-out, two-run double to center field for a 5-4 GCU edge. Holland scored on a wild pitch and error for a 6-4 lead.

GCU junior pitcher Ryan Denhart sat down the first two Cal Poly batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh and secured the win a few batters later on a pop-up.

"The offense came alive and we had everyone hitting through the lineup, moving runners and driving them in," Pierson said. "Lilly had a monster day at the plate and really provided the spark that we needed. Olivia Zufelt put down a clutch bunt in the seventh to set the table for Kaileigh Holland's double to put us ahead. We had some great defense and saw huge plays from Araceli Pesqueira at second base. It was a great finish to the day and we're looking forward to another great game tomorrow."

Late rally falls short vs. CSU

Colorado State (9-6) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with two hits and an error for a 2-0 lead. Denhart had a perfect inning in the second inning but the Rams added one more run in the bottom of the third.

The Rams added three more runs in a four-hit fifth inning for a 6-0 lead.

With two outs in the seventh inning, GCU freshman right fielder Jaiden Reid extended the inning for the Lopes as she reached on an error. Bishop doubled down the left-field line, scoring Reid to break up the shutout. Lopes sophomore shortstop Savannah Tourville singled to add another Lopes run before the game ended at 6-2.

Bishop and Fifield each went 2 for 4.

GCU will take on No. 25 Texas Tech at 8 p.m. Saturday in their third game of the Judi Garman Classic.