Lopes take 2 on WAC-opening day

Friday, March 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-16, 0

Utah Valley

11-14, 0

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

3/26/2021 7:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU takes Game 1 in a run-rule, edges UVU in 2nd game

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball opened up WAC play with a doubleheader sweep of Utah Valley on Friday at GCU Softball Stadium.

The Lopes (13-16, 2-0 WAC) won 11-0 in the first game on a five-inning run rule and followed it by beating the Wolverines 3-2 in the second game.

"Great way to start conference, obviously against a very good and scrappy team in Utah Valley," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "I was really, really proud of our offensive approach in Game 1. It was something that we were working on all week and it was really good to see our kids stay with their plan and make adjustments as needed. So they could be more aggressive at the plate and bound the ball around."

After a one-two-three inning by senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Denhart, GCU broke the game open in the bottom of the first inning as right fielder Tabitha Dyer drew a walk and then was brought home on a monstrous home run to left field by first baseman Lilly Bishop for a 2-0 Lopes lead. Bishop went 4 for 6 with 5 RBIs in the doubleheader.

Another quick inning for Denhart allowed the Lopes to get back to the plate for more run support. This time, it was senior Kaileigh Holland who drew a walk and scored on the Lopes' second home run, a blast by catcher Kaylee Dietrich. Second baseman Jordan Pierson followed with a bunt for a base hit. With bases loaded and one out, Bishop collected two more RBIs with a single up the middle for a 6-0 Lopes lead. GCU moved ahead 8-0 on junior third baseman Savannah Tourville's two-run double.

"We had two great at bats with Tabitha and Kaileigh Holland to set up Lilly and Sparky's (Dietrich's) home runs to get four on the board," Pierson said. "Then, just to continue to swing and have some good situational hitting and moving runners, running the bases well and taking extra bases. Our offense was exactly what I would hope it would be each and every day, as we were very aggressive and confident."

In the bottom of the third inning, Holland once again drew a walk to start the Lopes off and advanced to second on a single by Dietrich. With runners on second and third, left fielder Gianna Nicoletti singled through the right side, scoring Holland. Dietrich scored on a ground ball to the right side to give GCU an 11-0 lead.

"Our defense was outstanding in Game 1 and Ryan threw an incredible game and was super-efficient," Pierson said. "Everything was working, and she was locating very well and keeping batters off balance. Then Sydnie (Sahhar) came in and threw her couple innings very well and just slammed the door. It was good to give them another look and limit Ryan's pitches."

Sahhar, a sophomore left-handed pitcher, pitched two perfect innings to end the game on the run rule.

Lopes battle to take Game 2

In the second game, Utah Valley scored first with a run on two hits in the top of the first inning. Dyer threw a scoreless second inning before the Lopes went to freshman Jacie Hambrick for the final five innings.

"Tabitha threw a great inning and we were really pleased to get a couple innings out of her and then come with the good combo of Jacie, and she did fantastic, attacking the zone and feeding the defense for outs," Pierson said. "Again, the defense was rally strong. We had big plays from Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage at short, (Kristin) Fifield in center field and Gianna in left field and Sparky (Dietrich) did a great job behind the plate."

GCU took the lead in the fourth inning when Bishop hit a leadoff double to right field and scored on a single up the middle by Fifield, the center fielder. With one out and runners on second and third, Holland singled to right to make it 2-1 Lopes.

The Lopes added one more run in the fifth as Nicoletti led off with a triple to left center and scored on a Bishop fielder's choice for a 3-1 edge.

UVU showed life in the sixth, scoring a run on two hits to cut GCU's lead to 3-2. Hambrick retired the side in the top of the seventh, giving the Lopes a 3-2 win.

"We got back to our plan at the plate and we got more aggressive and we were able to put more runs up on the board," Pierson said. "We are excited about the start, but we have to come back and have another good game tomorrow (Saturday)."

GCU is back for the final game of the Utah Valley series at 1 p.m. Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium.