Lopes take 2 at San Diego

Saturday, February 20

San Diego, Calif

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-4

San Diego

0-3

Grand Canyon

San Diego

2/20/2021 10:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Pitchers' duel favors GCU to finish road sweep at USD

By: Kellie Reynolds

SAN DIEGO – Grand Canyon softball traveled for the first time this season and won both games of a doubleheader at San Diego in completely different fashion, recording 7-2 and 1-0 victories.

"It was a great start to the weekend. This was a competitive team effort which is always awesome to see," said Lopes head coach Ann Pierson "Ryan pitched an unbelievable game, attacking hitters and mixing speeds and locations,' said Pierson. "Anytime she's throwing four to five pitches for strikes, I like our chances. She held a very tough offense at bay and allowed our bats to go work."

The Lopes (4-4) got on the board first as freshman third baseman Daisy Taloa started the top of the second by drawing a walk. Sophomore second baseman Savannah Tourville followed by getting hit by a pitch. Taloa and Tourville scored off a single to left field by freshman designed player Izzabela Goerke.

GCU added three more runs in the top of the third inning. Senior first baseman Lilly Bishop led off with a walk. Pinch runner Araceli Pesqueira scored on a triple to right field by sophomore outfielder Kristin Fifield. Fifield scored on a single up the middle by senior catcher Kaylee Dietrich, who scored one batter later when Tourville doubled to center field.

In the top of the fourth, the Lopes added one more run as Bishop drew another walk and Fifield hit her second triple of the game.

The Toreros showed fight in the bottom of the fifth as they hung two runs on three hits.

GCU scored their final run of the game in the top of the seventh. Dietrich opened with a walk and sophomore pinch-runner Jordan Pierson scored on two wild pitches a batter later.

"Our offense was strong with hits, extra base hits and situational hitting. Fifield has a great night at the plate, and it was fun to see Izzabela get her first collegiate hit and RBI," added Pierson.

Game 2 pitchers' duel favors Lopes

Game 2 was a pitcher's dual won by GCU freshman right-hander Jacie Hambrick, who threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts.

"In game two Jacie threw her best game yet. She and pitching coach Mandy Gardner worked on some things this past week and it was exciting to see her put those adjustments into her game," said Pierson.

Freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage broke up a San Diego no-hitter in the third with an infield single to shortstop.

The Toreros picked up their first hit in the fourth with a single to left field, but their rally also stopped there.

In the fifth, Taloa drew a two-out walk and Tourville singled to left field, but GCU was unable to capitalize. The Toreros strung a rally together in the fifth but were also unable to score.

Hambrick helped herself in the sixth, knocking a lead-off single to center field but San Diego held off the Lopes one last time.

In the top of the seventh, Fifield started with a single to center and move around to score on a Dietrich sacrifce bunt, Taloa ground out and a passed ball with Tourville at the plate.

Hambrick put USD down in order to end the game, including a game-ending strikeout.

"Our offense kept at a strong San Diego pitching performance and stayed with their plan. The USD defense was incredibly strong, but I was impressed how our hitters kept grinding. Again, our situational hitting set us up for the lone run. It was good to see Ry and Jac go the distance. We have two more very tough games tomorrow and the team is ready to keep grinding," said Pierson.

The Lopes travel to La Jolla, California, to take on UC San Diego in another doubleheader Sunday.