Denhart hurls no-hitter on 2-0 day

Wednesday, March 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-20

South Dakota

11-18

South Dakota

Grand Canyon

3/11/2020 11:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

Lopes defeat South Dakota 9-0, beat Lehigh 16-7

Grand Canyon junior pitcher Ryan Denhart opened the GCU Invitational with a five-inning no-hitter to beat South Dakota 9-0 on Wednesday night, when the Lopes carried that momentum into a 16-7 nightcap win against Lehigh in six innings at GCU Softball Stadium.

"Great day, obviously, getting two wins," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "Ryan Denhart's no-hitter set the tone early. She was on point and fantastic, and had the perfect game going into the last inning. She was throwing lights out. She was throwing what she wanted, when she wanted, where she wanted. I think they hit one ball really hard and, besides that, she was just feeding the defense and they were great behind her. Of course, it always helps when you put up a bunch of runs behind her."

GCU senior second baseman Loriann Olson led off the second inning by drawing a walk and advanced to third on an error. With one out, Lopes sophomore designed player Brooke Cantillo scored Olson on a sacrifice fly. A single up the middle from sophomore center fielder Gianna Nicoletti gave GCU their second run of the inning. Sophomore third baseman Savannah Tourville singled up the middle to score Nicoletti for a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Lopes freshman shortstop Kristin Fifield singled up the middle to build on the Lopes' momentum. With runners on second and third and one out, freshman left fielder Mickey Covarrubio beat out an infield single and scored Fifield. Four consecutive Lopes hits resulted in four more runs and lifted them to a 9-0 lead.

The Coyotes reached base for the frst time in the fifth inning on a one-out error but Denhart ended the game with a pop-up and a ground out for her first no-hitter. She did not allow a hit or walk on 60 pitches with two strikeouts.

Big 1st inning lifts Lopes to run-rule win

"They turned it on again in Game 2, putting up nine runs in the first inning with our hits, walks and great baserunning with just execution," Pierson said of the 16-7 win. "Lehigh chipped away and got back in. Then, Brianna Aguilar came in and just closed the door. She threw so well again, just feeding the defense and allowing us to make plays."

GCU, as the visitor, started where it left off in Game 1. Nicoletti drew a leadoff walk and Tourville followed with her fourth hit of the day. With one out and runners on second and third, Fifield hit a rocket off the left-field fence to score Nicoletti and Tourville. Two batters later, Olson tripled to left-center, scoring Fifield and junior catcher Kaileigh Holland. GCU added two more runs in the inning off Lehigh mistakes before Tourville singled to left field for her second hit of the inning and first RBI. The Lopes added two additional runs for a 9-0 lead after one inning.

The Mountain Hawks responded with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning.

GCU scored its 10th run in the top of the second inning when Olson scored after Lehigh threw out a GCU runner attempting to steal second.

Lehigh did not give up, picking up five runs on five hits in the second and third innings combined.

In the top of the fifth inning with two outs and two runners on base, junior first baseman Lilly Bishop hit a line drive over the left-field fence for her fourth home and run and a 13-7 Lopes lead.

GCU added three runs in the top of the sixth inning on one hit, three walks and two hit batters.

"We just found a lot of ways to score and I am just proud of their energy and focus to stay with the game plan at the plate and on defense," Pierson said.

The Lopes continue the GCU Invitational with a 5:30 p.m. Friday game against Ohio State (9-9) at GCU Softball Stadium.