Redhawks trim Lopes in WAC tourney opener

Thursday, May 13

Seattle, Wash.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

19-29

Seattle U

26-19

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

5/13/2021 10:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU will take on New Mexico State in Friday elimination game

By: Kellie Reynolds

SEATTLE — The third-seeded Grand Canyon softball team led second-seeded host Seattle U 3-0 in a WAC Tournament opener on Thursday night but lost 5-4 at Francis F. Logan Field.

"I thought it was a great game," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "The kids played so well and so hard. They battled from the time we got there 'til the last out was made. We did everything well and I like our chances when our defense is playing clean. We are making pitches and our offense is putting runs up.

"We obviously know that Seattle is a tough team, very competitive and at the top of the conference in all statistics. We knew that a three-run lead was not going to be enough. We kept hitting the ball hard and I am just really proud of how hard they played and their energy, fight and competitiveness. I think that approach alone is going to take us deep into the tournament."

GCU remains alive in the double-elimination tournament with a must-win 1 p.m. game against top-seeded New Mexico State on Friday. If the Lopes win, they will play again Friday at 7 p.m. against the loser of the 4 p.m. game between Seattle U and Utah Valley.

GCU got on the board first Thursday, when freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage hit a two-out double to left center in the top of the second inning. Lopes freshman pitcher Jacie Hambrick followed with a single to left center, scoring Aguilar-Beaucage and helping herself out in the circle.

After Hambrick shut out Seattle U for a second inning, the Lopes added two more runs to their lead in the third inning. GCU junior left field Gianna Nicoletti started the rally with a single up the middle and was followed by a push bunt single from senior right fielder Tabitha Dyer. Senior first baseman Lilly Bishop then singled through the right side, scoring Nicoletti for a 2-0 lead. GCU collected its fourth straight single when junior second baseman Savannah Tourville singled to center field, scoring Dyer for a 3-0 advantage.

The Redhawks, however, took the lead from the Lopes in the bottom half of the third inning, scoring five runs on six hits for a lead they would not surrender.

After three scoreless innings, the Lopes rallied in the top of the seventh inning when freshman Kaytlin Leyvas smashed a one-out, pinch-hit double to left center field. Nicoletti followed with a triple to right center, pulling the Lopes within one run of the Redhawks with one out. Seattle pitcher Carley Nance, with a 2.74 ERA on the season, closed the door by getting a strikeout and a ground out to end the game and advance into the winner's bracket.

"We get to play our rival in New Mexico State tomorrow (Friday) and that is always a good ball game," Pierson said. "We are just taking this as an opportunity to play together and we have a long road ahead but, if we are showing up the way we did today, then I like our chances to come out of the losers' bracket."

GCU is back in action at 1 p.m. on Friday against No.1 seed New Mexico State in an elimination game at Logan Field. The Aggies won two of three games when the Lopes visited Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 2-3.