Upcoming Event: Softball versus Pima CC on September 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 13
Phoenix, Ariz.
4 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-2
16
vs
5
Montana
1-3
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
1
3
6
2
4
16
18
1
MONTANA
2
1
0
2
0
5
10
3
Offense impresses again for split day
2/13/2021 11:06:00 PM | Softball
GCU takes down Montana, hangs with No. 10 Oregon on Kickoff Classic Day 2
Grand Canyon looked to redeem itself against Montana in its first game Saturday and the Lppes did that and some. GCUÂ knocked in 16 runs on the Grizzlies, which happened to be the most runs ever scored against Montana and the 16-5 final was the largest margin of defeat the Grizzlies have suffered in their seventh season as a program.
"Our performance today comes down to solid defense and situational hitting," GCU assistant coach Chelsey Broermann said. "We worked together on defense to get outs and backed our defense with run production. We knew we had better softball in us than what we showed against Montana a night ago and they came to play today."
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GCU, as the visitors, managed to score in all five innings against Montana at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes scored one run in the first inning when junior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a walk, stole second and took advantage of a Montana error. The Grizzlies fought back, taking the lead in the bottom of the first with two runs on five hits.
However, the Lopes were unfazed as freshman third baseman Daisy Taloa started off the second inning with a single down the left field line and then stole second. A single to left field by freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage tied the game at 2-2. GCU tacked on two more runs in the top of the third to take the lead back and they controlled the rest of the game.
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In the top of the third, the Lopes pulled away with six runs on six hits. Senior first baseman Lilly Bishop started the onslaught with a single to right field and quickly scored on sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield's home run over the right field fence. GCU tallied four singles in a row and three runs to make it 10-3 Lopes.
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The Lopes added two more runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead. Montana, however, still had some fight left and scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth.Â
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GCU was not done scoring, as Nicoletti doubled to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on a single to right field by Bishop. Taloa picked up her second hit of the game with a double to right center field, scoring Bishop and Fifield for a 16-5 GCU lead.
Sophomore pitcher Sydnie Sahhar was able to shut down the Grizzlies offense in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule win for the Lopes.
"We showed up on both sides of the ball and had a ton of fun doing it," Broermann said. "The grit and the tenacity of this group is so much fun to watch when they really get it going."
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Lopes hang with No. 10 Oregon Â
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In Saturday's second game, the Lopes took on No.10 Oregon. After shaking off big-game jitters with an opening walk, GCU freshman pitcher Jacie Hambrick settled in with a strikeout on three strikes and senior catcher Kaylee Dietrich gunning down the Ducks' Hayley Cruse in an attempt to steal second. Cruse had not been thrown out attempting to steal since 2019 after going 15 for 15 last season.
"Game 1 energy definitely set the tone for us," Broermann said. "The energy in the air was high and we knew we had more fight in us for Game 2. It was awesome to punch first and get on the board ahead of Oregon."
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Dietrich collected the first hit with a one-out single to right field and Bishop followed with another single. Another single this time to deep center allowed Dietrich to score and Bishop also crossed the plate on a throwing error. Â Â
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"What I think is really great about this team is we are not taking things lightly anymore," Dietrich said. "We are so much confidence in ourselves. Our team and our starting lineup and this game was no different for us. All year long, we knew we are going to be playing big teams and top-10 teams and we have been trying to keep a good mentality and staying confident."
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Hambrick tossed a one-two-three inning in the top of the third to keep the lead. Oregon managed to rally in the top of the fourth when it tied the score at 2-2.
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"It has been such a fun run with Jacie," Dietrich said. "She is such a hard-working teammate and, when she is out there every day grinding and giving it her all, it makes me want to do the same. She does such a good job making adjustments and was able to just keep her confidence. For me, it was about trusting everything she does and knowing the movements of her pitches and knowing, if she is confident with it, then it is going to be a really good pitch."
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In the top of the sixth, the Ducks took the lead with three runs on three hits. GCU was unable to respond in the bottom of the sixth, but Hambrick managed another perfect inning in the top of the seventh for GCU.Â
"I just wanted to remain confident and do me and, if I give it my best and remain confident, I know the people behind me will do their part and we will figure out a way to get outs," said Hambrick, a Prescott Valley (Ariz.) Bradshaw Mountain High School graduate.
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The Lopes were not done, as Dietrich started off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to center field to cut the lead to 5-3 but the game ended with one Lope on base.
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"Our defense was solid, and Spark shut down any idea of a run game when she threw Oregon's Cruse out at second," Broermann said. "That was big for us because we knew that threat was diffused right away, and momentum was still on our side. This was the fifth game we got into our opponents' bullpen and it was great to see our lineup produce all the way around. When we string together hits and make plays like we did today, it puts us in a good position to win ball games. "
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The Lopes finish out the GCU Kickoff Classic against Weber State on Sunday at 11 a.m. in GCU Softball Stadium. Â
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"Our performance today comes down to solid defense and situational hitting," GCU assistant coach Chelsey Broermann said. "We worked together on defense to get outs and backed our defense with run production. We knew we had better softball in us than what we showed against Montana a night ago and they came to play today."
Â
GCU, as the visitors, managed to score in all five innings against Montana at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes scored one run in the first inning when junior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a walk, stole second and took advantage of a Montana error. The Grizzlies fought back, taking the lead in the bottom of the first with two runs on five hits.
However, the Lopes were unfazed as freshman third baseman Daisy Taloa started off the second inning with a single down the left field line and then stole second. A single to left field by freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage tied the game at 2-2. GCU tacked on two more runs in the top of the third to take the lead back and they controlled the rest of the game.
Â
In the top of the third, the Lopes pulled away with six runs on six hits. Senior first baseman Lilly Bishop started the onslaught with a single to right field and quickly scored on sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield's home run over the right field fence. GCU tallied four singles in a row and three runs to make it 10-3 Lopes.
Â
The Lopes added two more runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead. Montana, however, still had some fight left and scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth.Â
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GCU was not done scoring, as Nicoletti doubled to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on a single to right field by Bishop. Taloa picked up her second hit of the game with a double to right center field, scoring Bishop and Fifield for a 16-5 GCU lead.
Sophomore pitcher Sydnie Sahhar was able to shut down the Grizzlies offense in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule win for the Lopes.
"We showed up on both sides of the ball and had a ton of fun doing it," Broermann said. "The grit and the tenacity of this group is so much fun to watch when they really get it going."
Â
Lopes hang with No. 10 Oregon Â
  Â
In Saturday's second game, the Lopes took on No.10 Oregon. After shaking off big-game jitters with an opening walk, GCU freshman pitcher Jacie Hambrick settled in with a strikeout on three strikes and senior catcher Kaylee Dietrich gunning down the Ducks' Hayley Cruse in an attempt to steal second. Cruse had not been thrown out attempting to steal since 2019 after going 15 for 15 last season.
"Game 1 energy definitely set the tone for us," Broermann said. "The energy in the air was high and we knew we had more fight in us for Game 2. It was awesome to punch first and get on the board ahead of Oregon."
Â
Dietrich collected the first hit with a one-out single to right field and Bishop followed with another single. Another single this time to deep center allowed Dietrich to score and Bishop also crossed the plate on a throwing error. Â Â
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"What I think is really great about this team is we are not taking things lightly anymore," Dietrich said. "We are so much confidence in ourselves. Our team and our starting lineup and this game was no different for us. All year long, we knew we are going to be playing big teams and top-10 teams and we have been trying to keep a good mentality and staying confident."
 Â
Hambrick tossed a one-two-three inning in the top of the third to keep the lead. Oregon managed to rally in the top of the fourth when it tied the score at 2-2.
Â
"It has been such a fun run with Jacie," Dietrich said. "She is such a hard-working teammate and, when she is out there every day grinding and giving it her all, it makes me want to do the same. She does such a good job making adjustments and was able to just keep her confidence. For me, it was about trusting everything she does and knowing the movements of her pitches and knowing, if she is confident with it, then it is going to be a really good pitch."
Â
In the top of the sixth, the Ducks took the lead with three runs on three hits. GCU was unable to respond in the bottom of the sixth, but Hambrick managed another perfect inning in the top of the seventh for GCU.Â
"I just wanted to remain confident and do me and, if I give it my best and remain confident, I know the people behind me will do their part and we will figure out a way to get outs," said Hambrick, a Prescott Valley (Ariz.) Bradshaw Mountain High School graduate.
Â
The Lopes were not done, as Dietrich started off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to center field to cut the lead to 5-3 but the game ended with one Lope on base.
Â
"Our defense was solid, and Spark shut down any idea of a run game when she threw Oregon's Cruse out at second," Broermann said. "That was big for us because we knew that threat was diffused right away, and momentum was still on our side. This was the fifth game we got into our opponents' bullpen and it was great to see our lineup produce all the way around. When we string together hits and make plays like we did today, it puts us in a good position to win ball games. "
Â
The Lopes finish out the GCU Kickoff Classic against Weber State on Sunday at 11 a.m. in GCU Softball Stadium. Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Denhart, Ryan (2-0)
L: Achenbach, Tristin (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Nicoletti, Gianna 1 ; Bishop, Lilly 1 ; Taloa, Daisy 1 ; Tourville, Savannah 1 ; Aguilar-Beaucage, Anjolee 1
HR: Fifield, Kristin 1
RBI: Nicoletti, Gianna 2 ; Bishop, Lilly 1 ; Fifield, Kristin 2 ; Taloa, Daisy 2 ; Tourville, Savannah 1 ; Aguilar-Beaucage, Anjolee 3 ; Pierson, Jordan 1
SH: Reid, Jaiden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicoletti, Gianna 2 ; Bishop, Lilly 2 ; Pesqueira, Araceli 1 ; Fifield, Kristin 2 ; Dietrich, Kaylee 1 ; Coons, Lexy 1 ; Taloa, Daisy 2 ; Tourville, Savannah 1 ; Aguilar-Beaucage, Anjolee 2 ; Pierson, Jordan 2
SB: Nicoletti, Gianna 1 ; Taloa, Daisy 1 ; Pierson, Jordan 1
CS: Nicoletti, Gianna 1
HBP: Dietrich, Kaylee 1
Batting:
2B: McGrath, Maygen 1
HR: Sellers, Cami 2 ; McGrath, Maygen 1
RBI: Sellers, Cami 3 ; McGrath, Maygen 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Becker, Kylie 1 ; Sellers, Cami 3 ; McGrath, Maygen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
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