Lopes take 2 over Northern Illinois

Saturday, March 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-9

Northern Illinois

3-3

Northern Illinois

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

3/6/2021 10:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

GCU wins a pitchers' dual in Game 1; bats take over in Game 2

The Grand Canyon softball team took two wins in different styles against Northern Illinois on Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium, winning Game 1 in a pitchers' duel before the Lopes' bats came alive in Game 2.

"Today was a great day, two wins against a very scrappy and aggressive Northern Illinois team," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "(NIU pitcher) Claire Norred, there is a reason she has thrown 18 of their innings thus far. She is clearly talented and keeps batters off balance. She throws outs and she throws strikeouts, and she was definitely a tough pitcher for us."

After three scoreless innings of play, the Huskies got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, but only scored one run on five hits.

GCU responded in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield picked up her second hit of the game with a single to right field. Junior third baseman Savannah Tourville followed with a single to left field. With two outs, Lopes senior catcher Kaylee Dietrich hit a hard ground ball to shortstop, scoring Fifield and advancing Tourville to third. Freshman designated player Daisy Taloa laced a two-out single up the middle to give the Lopes their second and final run of the game.

"We made some mistakes, and it took it us out of some innings, but ultimately we just need to continue to stay with our plan and while we definitely want to be aggressive, we also want to be smart," Pierson said.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lopes looked like they were going to add to their lead after Fifield and Tourville once again had back-to-back singles. However, the rally stopped there.

"I was really pleased, Ryan Denhart thew a great game," Pierson said. "She was very efficient in her pitches and hitting her spots. Our defense made some really great plays behind her which is always nice when you are on the rubber."

Denhart, a senior, closed the door on the Huskies in the seventh inning with her third straight perfect inning for a complete-game win.

"I was happy with some of the stuff NIU did with being aggressive and trying to take extra bases and our kids just maintaining our composure and seeing how the play was going to develop and then getting outs and shutting it down," Pierson said. "That took them out of some big innings, and I was really proud of our defense."

Long ball provides in Game 2

Northern Illinois came out ready to play in the second game with three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning.

"In Game 2, Jacie really settled in after the first inning and their three runs and it did not seem to bother our bats, as we came back and got four runs and then just kept our foot on the gas," Pierson said.

GCU seemed unfazed as junior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a walk and stole second to start the bottom of the first. Senior first baseman Lilly Bishop drove in Nicoletti for the Lopes' first run with a single to center field. Fifield collected her fourth hit of the day when she homered to center field to tie the game at 3-3. Tourville again followed with a hit, a double to left field. GCU managed one more run when Tourvulle scored on an error by the Huskies.

"I would really like to see less zeroes up on the scoreboard, I like seeing big innings," Pierson said. "I also want to see them spread out across the game. I thought it was a very good team day. We had a lot of offense and defense, as well as great pitching. It was great to see Tabitha Dyer come in and get the close."

In the bottom of the second, the Lopes added two more runs to their lead when Dyer, a senior right fielder, drew a two-out walk and Bishop crushed a two-run home run near the left-field pole, making it a 6-2 GCU lead. Fifield followed with her fifth hit, a double to right-center field. The Huskies were able to stop the Lopes there.

The Lopes were scoreless in the third inning but Nicoletti led off the fourth with a single and stole her second base of the game. With two outs, Fifield was initially walked and then Tourville followed with a walk to load the bases. Hambrick singled to right-center field, scoring Nicoletti and Fifield. Freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage hit a triple to right center, giving the Lopes a 10-3 lead.

"Fifield was just unbelievable today with her bat, only getting out once, hitting the ball out of the park, hitting doubles," Pierson said. "I was just really pleased with her performance today. Lilly Bishop as well. It was good to see her get a hold of another home run and just do what she does. She hit the ball well and we just had a lot of scrappy execution and hard-hit balls."

In the top of the sixth, NIU managed to score two runs without a hit o make it a five-run ball game. However, GCU maintained its lead and took the second game.

"I was really pleased with us overall," Pierson said. "We have another tough game with NIU tomorrow and we have to get back after it tomorrow and be ready to run on all cylinders."

The Lopes look to complete the series with Northern Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the GCU Softball Stadium.