Outstanding defense not enough in Game 4 with NIU

Wednesday, March 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-10

Northern Illinois

4-6

Northern Illinois

Grand Canyon

3/10/2021 9:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes outhit the Huskies but lost 6-3 on Wednesday night

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team took on Northern Illinois for their fourth time on Wednesday evening after sweeping a weekend series, but NIU scored early and often to defeat the Lopes 6-3 this go-around.

"I am disappointed," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "We waited way too long to start getting fiery. We squandered a few scoring opportunities early in the game and, with any team, you cannot squander scoring opportunities. You have to be able to produce. So I was disappointed with that and I was disappointed that we gave them six runs."

Northern Illinois got on the board first, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Despite putting pressure on the Huskies defense, the Lopes were unable to counter in the bottom of the first.

The Lopes defense was outstanding in the top of the second inning as freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage made an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left-center field for the second out of the inning. One batter later, junior third baseman Savannah Tourville made a heads-up, bare-handed play at third with a throw to first for the final out of the inning.

"The bright spot was our defense," Pierson said. "We made so fabulous plays. We settled in on an inning where NIU is sitting on a first-and-third situation with nobody out and they don't score. Our defense was outstanding there. Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage and Jordan Pierson made some great plays."

In the top of the third inning, the Huskies managed to score two runs on three hits to increase their lead to 3-0 over the Lopes. With two outs, GCU had back-to-back hits as right fielder Tabitha Dyer hit a ground-rule double to right-center field and senior Lilly Bishop followed with a single. However, the Lopes were not able to push across any runs.

GCU got on the board in the top of the fourth inning as Tourville drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on the next at bat and then moved over to third on a passed ball. Sophomore designated player Jaiden Reid singled to shortstop to score Tourville and give the Lopes their first run of the game.

The Huskies responded in the top of the fifth as they doubled their runs to take a 6-1 lead over the Lopes. GCU got one run back in the bottom half of the inning as junior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a one-out walk. Bishop collected her second hit of the night on a single up the middle. advancing Nicoletti to third. Sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield followed with a single to right center, scoring Nicoletti.

"Having Lexy Coons come out and pitch as well as she did, after being in a few situations so far this season. I was really proud of the way she came out and just grabbed the ball and did her thing," Pierson said. "That was really exciting to see and she has been putting in the work and has been throwing well the last week. So that was good for her to get the opportunity and do so well."

In the top of the sixth, it looked like the Huskies might add on a few runs but Coons, a senior, came out of her first inning of relief without any damage. Aguilar-Beaucage made her second over-the-shoulder catch to secure the second out of the inning and freshman catcher Izzabela Goerke caught a Husky attempting to steal for the third out.

Bringing the momentum from the top of the inning to the plate was Aguilar-Beaucage, who led off with the Lope second ground-rule double to right-center field. Reid followed with a single to left field, scoring Aguilar-Beaucage and cutting the Huskies lead in half.

Coons threw a perfect inning in the top half of the seventh to give the Lopes a chance to walk it off. With two outs and nobody on. Bishop collected her third hit with a single down the left-field line. Fifield followed with a single through the right side to put runners on first and second. The Lopes loaded the bases as Tourville drew a two-out walk but the rally stopped there.

"Now we turn around and finish off this weekend with Baylor and NIU again and just keep learning as we keep going through it and just keep running the team out there and keep getting better," Pierson said.

The Lopes are back in action on Friday when they host the first day of the Lopes Up Classic, starting with a 1:30 p.m. game against Baylor at GCU Softball Stadium.