Lopes Up Classic brings 10 games


Grand Canyon Lopes (4-16)	vs	UNLV Rebels (16-5)	Montana Grizzles (9-10)	Saint Joseph's Hawks (3-6)
		Friday, Mar. 6 5 p.m.	Friday, Mar. 6 7 p.m.	Saturday, Mar. 7 3 p.m
Game Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon softball team hosts the Lopes Up Classic this weekend. GCU will kick off the tournament on Friday against UNLV at 5 p.m. and then Montana at 7 p.m. The Lopes also will play Saint Joseph's at 3 p.m. Saturday, followed up by another game with Montana at 5 p.m. GCU wraps up the weekend with a 11:30 p.m. rematch with UNLV on Sunday.

Video will be provided on gculopes.com

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

ONE-TWO PUNCH: GCU recently made adjustments to its batting order. Sophomore Gianna Nicoletti moved to the leadoff position and junior first baseman Lilly Bishop found a home in the two-hole. The two became a dynamic duo at the top of the order, combining for 16 hits, six runs and six RBIs last weekend at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California.
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: GCU will play 10 teams from last year's NCAA tournament this season, including one Women's College World Series participant and teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.

SCOUTING

UNLV, after starting the season 2-3, has gone 14-2 improving to 16-5. The Rebels rank 14th in the NCAA in team ERA at 1.76 in 143 innings. They also are ranked fifth in team fielding percentage as well as being in the top 50 for shutouts and on-base percentage. At the plate, freshman Maddie Schmidt is leading the Rebels in almost every offensive category. In 21 starts, she is hitting .424 with three triples, nine RBIs and an on-base percentage of .547. Schmidt is also a threat on the bases, going a team-best 16 for 16. In the circle, Breana Burke has a team-low ERA of 1.27 in 38 2/3 innings pitched and a record of 3-0. Sophomore Jenny Bressler has logged the most innings on the rubber for the Rebels with 63 2/3, going 8-3 with an ERA of 1.43 and 72 strikeouts.

Montana went 5-9 in its last three tournaments after getting off to a hot start of 4-1 to open the season. Most recently, the Grizzlies went to the Amy S. Harrison Classic, where they were 3-1 after defeating UC Riverside, Michigan State and Omaha. Montana picked up its first win over a ranked opponent in program history on Feb. 22 against No. 23 Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Cami Sellers is one of two Montana players who have started in all 19 games. The junior leads the team at the plate with a .344 average and .414 on-base percentage. On the rubber, Michaela Hood has a team-low ERA of 1.90 and a 3-4 record in 59 innings pitched. Junior Tristin Achenbach has totaled 66 innings for the Grizzles and has a team-high 66 strikeouts and a 6-6 record.

Saint Joseph's comes into the Lopes Up Classic only having played nine games so far this season. The Hawks opened the season 2-3 and picked up their third win over Bucknell in North Carolina at the Fairfield Crabtree Invitational. Saint Joseph's has hit two home runs and given up 10 on the season. Senior Jancarla Herrera leads the Hawks at the plate with a batting average and slugging percentage of .417 and on-base percentage of .462. In the circle, Saige Stutz has totaled the most innings for the Hawks with 22.1. The freshman and Arizona native has an ERA of 2.82 and is 2-0 for the Hawks.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU went 1-4 at the Judi Garman Classic, defeating Cal Poly 6-4 with junior pitcher Ryan Denhart picking up her second win of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lopes will host the GCU Invitational, beginning on Wednesday. GCU will compete against South Dakota, Lehigh, Pacific and Ohio State throughout the invitational.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lilly Bishop

Ryan Denhart

Gianna Nicoletti

Grand Canyon University Athletics