Lopes take 1of 2 in 2nd day of GCU Invite

Saturday, March 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

10-15

Southern Utah

6-15

Southern Utah

Grand Canyon

3/20/2021 10:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Bats explode against Idaho State in nightcap win

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team started the second day of the GCU Invitational with a 9-3 loss to Southern Utah before bouncing back with a 5-4 win against Idaho State at GCU Softball Stadium.

"Great finish to the day," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "I was really happy with the fight and our ability to manage our emotions during the games and the fact that we stayed focused was just really telling of a team that is maturing."

Southern Utah started out with all the momentum as it scored four runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. The Lopes responded in the bottom half of the inning when junior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti led off with a single up the middle and stole second. Nicoletti scored on a hard-hit ground ball and error.

The Lopes added a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Thunderbirds lead in half. Nicoletti drew a two-out walk and scored on another SUU error.

In the third inning, SUU added one more run on two hits for a 5-2 lead. GCU was able to get one back in the bottom half of the inning, when junior Savannah Tourville was hit by a pitch and scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch.

Southern Utah tacked on four more runs in the fourth off three hits to take a 9-3 lead over the Lopes.

"(Senior) Lilly Bishop swung her bat so well today and we chipped and chipped away and had some opportunities in Game 1 that we let get away from us and we just have to continue to grow up in those moments and take advantage of those opportunities with runners in scoring position," Pierson said. "Certainly, with bases loaded and being in an opportunity to break open the inning for us. I was pleased with the defense and the pitching when Jacie Hambrick came in."

Bishop goes 3- or 3 with 3 RBIs

GCU, as the visitor, took an early lead over Idaho State in its second game of the day. In true GCU fashion, Nicoletti led off with a double to left field. Bishop hit an opposite-field home run, giving GCU a 2-0 lead.

"Just starting off getting on the board first is always the goal," Pierson said. "Again, really pleased with the defense. We made some great plays with Savannah's double play unassisted, tagging the runner out at third and sending it over to first, Tabitha Dyer throwing a kid out from right field at third base and Taylor Olsen's diving backhand in the hole. There were so many things I was pleased with on the night."

Idaho State started a rally in the bottom half of the inning but freshman right hander Jacie Hambrick retired three batters in a row on two strikeouts and a ground out.

"Jacie did a great job coming in, in relief in Game 1, and carrying the weight into Game 2," Pierson said. "It was really great to see her making pitches and throwing her change-up for a strike among her other pitches. I feel like if she has three pitches with a change-up for a strike, I really like our odds of winning the game. It was really good to see that."

The Bengals got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying the game up at 2-2.

GCU responded in the top of the fifth inning as Nicoletti singled up the middle with one out. With runners on first and second, Bishop collected her third RBI and hit with a single to right field. Sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield followed with a single through the right-side, scoring Dyer. Tourville hit a hand ground ball to the right side, scoring the Lopes' third run of the inning for a 5-2 lead.

"Again, just being able to maintain the emotions and not let it get too big and be able to manage the game along the way," Pierson said. "And it is always nice to have Ryan Denhart come in off the bench and shut the door."

Idaho State tacked on one run in the sixth and another in the seventh. Denhart had back-to-back strikeouts to retire the Bengals and pick up her second save.

"We saw a lot of great things: Gianna continues to swing a hot bat, Tabitha is doing well in the two spot, Sparky (Kaylee Dietrich) had a great day at the plate and hitting the ball hard," Pierson said. " So, I was really pleased with everything and we have to come back and try and get one from Southern Utah tomorrow, who is a really strong offensive team so we are going to have to match that and come back with another strong defensive side of the game."

GCU is back for the final game of the GCU Invitational on Sunday at 11 a.m. against Southern Utah.