Olson tallies 4 hits; GCU drops 2

Friday, March 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-17

UNLV

18-5

UNLV

Grand Canyon

3/6/2020 11:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Grand Canyon took on UNLV and Montana in the opening day of the Lopes Up Classic, falling to the Rebels 7-1 on Friday before coming up short in its rally against the Grizzles for a 10-7 loss at GCU Softball Stadium.

"Coming in, we had another great week of work," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "The kids are buying in and working to improve their fundamentals and skill sets. When I watch them work at practice and see their hustle and focus, it just makes me proud. It makes me proud going into every single game knowing the preparation that they put in.

"We are just coming up short. It is just a grind and we still have so many games left and are definitely battle-tested. There were a lot of high and encouraging points toda. We have Brianna Aguilar and Loriann Olson out on the field. The energy that they bring and the performance that they bring. Lu (Olson) had a great night on both sides of the ball and just having our two seniors out there was very encouraging and calming force."

UNLV took an early lead over GCU as it scored three runs in the top of the first inning off three hits. The Lopes responded in the bottom of the second inning when junior catcher Kaileigh Holland was hit by a pitch and freshman right fielder Jaiden Reid singled though the left side. Holland stole third and set up a first-and-third situation for GCU to later score when the Rebels went after Reid attempting to steal second.

The Rebels added three more runs in the top of the third on four hits. UNLV added one more run in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 7-1.

12 hits not enough against Grizzles

"The constant fight from our offense in Game 2, to be down early and to just have a so-what attitude and continue to fight and put runs up," Pierson said. "We made them run all three pitchers out there tonight and try and stifle our offense. I was really pleased with our approach at the plate. We had our lefties mixing things up and using all assets of their game to scrap hits together."

Montana took a quick lead over GCU when it scored five runs in the top of the first inning.

The Lopes got on the board in the bottom of the second inning, when Holland led off with a single up the middle. With two outs, Olson singled up the middle to score Holland.

The Grizzles added a run in the top of the third for a 6-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, GCU sophomore left fielder Gianna Nicoletti singled up the middle and then stole second. With two outs and runners on second and third, Holland homered to left field for her first home run of the season and cut the lead to 6-4.

Montana kept pushing back, adding three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning.

GCU continued to fight back. Reid led off the bottom of the fourth by reaching on an error. Nicoletti's two-out triple down the left-field line scored Reid. Sophomore third baseman Savannah Tourville followed with a double to left field, scoring Nicoletti and reducing the Montana lead to 9-6.

The Grizzles picked up their final run of the game in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 10-6.

Reid and Olson started off the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back singles for the Lopes. Once again, Nicoletti came up clutch with a single up the middle to give the Lopes their last run of the game.

"It is just a matter of keep going out there and keeping the focus, grind and energy," Pierson said. "Just knowing that we are not getting breaks, but we need to force the break and it's coming. I am proud of their focus and the work they are putting in. The wins are going to come. We just need to keep working."

Holland was 2 for 4 and Olson was 3 for 3 in her return.

On Saturday, GCU will take on Saint Joseph's at 3 p.m. and then Montana at 5 p.m. in Day 2 of the Lopes Up Classic.