Offense perks up but Lopes lose 2

Sunday, March 1

Fullerton, Calif.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal

3/1/2020 6:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU scored 11 combined run in Sunday finales

FULLERTON, Calif. — Grand Canyon rallied late against California and Boise State on Sunday but lost both games in their final day of the Judi Garman Classic

"It was another tough weekend of tough opponents," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "I was encouraged by a lot of different things: performances and growth in one sense. Our young ones continue to respond to adversity and pressure. We are working toward being more consistent in all areas of the game as we battle this last home tournament."

California 9, GCU 5

Cal took an early lead over the Lopes on a solo home run in the top of the first inning. GCU sophomore left fielder Gianna Nicoletti led off the bottom half of the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored to tie the game on a one-out single by freshman center fielder Mickey Covarrubio.

The Bears hung four more runs in the top of the second inning for a 5-1 lead and extended the lead to 8-1 in the fourth.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lopes capitalized on junior first baseman Lilly Bishop reaching base on an error with one out. Sophomore Brooke Cantillo pinch-hit and singled to right-center field. With two outs, freshman right fielder Jaiden Reid and junior catcher Kaileigh Holland drew back-to-back walks, resulting in a run for the Lopes. Sophomore second baseman Savannah Tourville cleared the bases with a double to left-center field and cut Cal's lead to 8-5.

The Bears added one run in the top of the seventh, giving them a four-run lead. Nicoletti hit an infield single to start the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough for the Lopes.

Boise State 10, GCU 6

Boise State took a 4-0 lead over GCU an the top of the first and added three more runs in the second.

The Lopes got on the board in the bottom of the third inning as freshman designated player Kristin Fifield hit a two-out single up the middle. Covarrubio followed with a single through the right side. A single to center field by Reid scored Fifield from second base.

The Broncos added two runs in the fifth inning, giving Boise State a 9-1 lead.

With their backs against the wall and not wanting to fall on the run rule, the Lopes rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cantillo drew a pinch-hit walk to start the inning and then freshman Olivia Zufelt hit a pinch-hit single to right center. With runners on the corners and one out, Holland laced a single down the third-base line to score Cantillo. Tourville hit a single to left field to load the bases for junior Kaylee Dietrich, who plated two runs on a pinch-hit single to left center. The Lopes pushed one more run across in the fifth to tighten the Broncos lead to 9-4.

Boise State added one run in the top of the seventh on two hits.

GCU did not die as Tourville led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field. Nicoletti hit a triple to left field, scoring Tourville and making it a four-run game again. The Lopes added one more run as Bishop singled to center and Nicoletti scored but Bishop was thrown out at second to end the game.

GCU will host the Lopes Up Classic beginning on Friday at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes will take on UNLV in "Friends at the Field" at 5 p.m. and then Montana at 7 p.m.