GCU set to host Lopes Up Classic


Grand Canyon Lopes (9-10)	vs.	Baylor Lady Bears (10-3)	NIU Huskies (4-6)
		Friday, March 12 1:30 p.m.	Friday, March 12 3:30 p.m.
Game Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

GCU comes into the Lopes Up Classic being very familiar with one of their opponents in Northern Illinois. The Lopes swept a three-game series with the Huskies over the weekend and then lost Wednesday to NIU. Baylor will square off with the Lopes this weekend in the first and last games of the tournament.

Video will be streamed on gculopes.com

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

BIG WEEKENDS: In their first three-game series, Kristin Fifield, Savannah Tourville and Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage all had outstanding performances. Fifield had a team-high batting average of .667 and an on-base percentage of .727. The center fielder had six hits, including a double and a home run. Her slugging percentage was 1.111 with four runs and two RBIs. Tourville, a junior, had a team-high slugging percentage of 1.200. In Sunday's game with NIU, she was a double away from hitting for the cycle. She also had a batting average of .600 with six hits, including a double, triple and homerun. Shortstop Aguilar-Beaucage had a team high of four RBIs with a batting average of .625 and a slugging percentage of .875. She totaled five hits, including a triple.
500 WINS: Head coach Ann Pierson is one win away from 500 career victories. The GCU skipper has guided seven 30-plus win seasons and two 40-plus win seasons.
FOUR EVERYDAY STARTERS: Four Lopes have started in all 19 games this season: Gianna Nicoletti, Savannah Tourville, Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage, and Kristin Fifield. Nicoletti has continued her offensive success from last season by leading the Lopes in batting average (.414) and on-base percentage (.528) this season. Tourville has made starts at four different positions this year (third base, second base, first base and designated player). She also has a team-best 17-game streak of reaching base. Aguilar-Beaucage has continued to be an offensive threat for the Lopes. In 31 at bats, the freshman has 20 hits and tied for a team best 13 RBIs. Despite being new to the outfield, Fifield has taken command in center for the Lopes. She is tied with Aguilar-Beaucage with 13 RBIs for a team best and has scored 16 runs this season.

SCOUTING

NIU comes into the Lopes Up Classic after playing in a three-game series with the Lopes last weekend in which they got swept. NIU turned around and lost 10-2 to No. 11 ASU on Tuesday. The Huskies returned to GCU for a 6-3 win on Wednesday. The Huskies are hitting .240 in 10 games with 61 hits and 32 runs scored. In the circle, they have a team ERA of 3.67. The Huskies have five players who have started in all 10 games. Junior infielder Katie Keller has a team-high batting average of .467 and an .833 slugging percentage. Keller has a team-best 14 hits, six of which are doubles with a homerun and a triple. Junior catcher Carley Goetschius has the team's second-best batting average (.385) and a .400 slugging percentage with a double and a home run. Bianca Barone has a team high of seven RBIs on five hits. In the circle, freshman Claire Norred has logged the most innings with 39. She has an ERA of 2.87 with three complete games, a shutout and a save, along with 28 strikeouts. Norred also has two of the Huskies' four wins.

Baylor has been in and out of the NCAA rankings this season and is currently receiving votes. The Lady Bears are hitting .296 with a slugging percentage of .413 and an on-base percentage of .357. Baylor is posting a 2.88 ERA with four complete games and three shutouts. Opposing teams are batting .226 against the Lady Bears. Senior infielder Nicky Dawson leads the team in almost every offensive category: batting average (.405), slugging percentage (.571), on-base percentage (.457), hits (17), runs (12) and triples (3). She also is a team best 8-for-8 on stolen bases. Fellow senior Goose McGlaun is also a huge threat at the plate for Baylor. She has started in all 13 games, posting a .349 batting average with a team high of nine RBIs with five doubles and a home run. Senior right-hander Gia Rodoni has logged the most innings in the circle for the Lady Bears with 34. She has made six starts while appearing in nine games with a record of 3-2 and an ERA of 2.88. Rodoni has thrown two complete games and nabbed three saves thus far. She also has a team best of 29 strikeouts. Freshman Maren Judisch has a team best ERA of 1.71. She has appeared in six games and made two starts. She has a record of 2-0 and has thrown one complete game and one shutout in 16.1 innings.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU hosted NIU for their first three-game series since 2019. The Lopes swept the Huskies with scores of 2-1, 10-5 and 7-6. The Lopes turned around and played the Huskies again on Wednesday night and fell 6-3.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lopes will host their final tournament, GCU Invitational, of the season beginning on March 19 as they welcome Idaho State and Southern Utah.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage

Kristin Fifield

Gianna Nicoletti

Savannah Tourville

Grand Canyon University Athletics