Lopes drop 2 against Seattle U

Friday, May 7

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

18-27, 0

Seattle U

25-18, 0

Seattle

Grand Canyon

5/7/2021 9:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Fifield goes 4 for 6 in doubleheader at GCU

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team returned to GCU Softball Stadium for its final regular-season series after being on the road for two straight weeks. The Lopes (18-26, 7-8) fell twice to Seattle U (25-18, 11-4) on Friday.

GCU dropped the first game against the Redhawks despite home runs from freshman shortstop Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage and sophomore center fielder Kristin Fifield. The second game of the day was a pitcher's duel until the seventh inning when the Redhawks rallied to pick up their second win of the day.

"Overall, just a really disappointing day to drop two and to be in the driver's seat in Game 2," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "To put it away, we have to be able to slam the door with a tight lead."

Seattle U builds early lead in opener

In Friday's first game, the Redhawks took an early lead over GCU by scoring two runs in the first inning and two more in the second inning. In the bottom of the second inning, Fifield led off with a single up the middle. Aguilar-Beaucage cut the lead in the half with a home run over the left-center field fence.

Seattle responded in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 7-2 lead over the Lopes.

GCU added one run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Fifield hit a solo home run to right field.

"We had some highlights today: Kristen Fifield at the plate was outstanding for us," Pierson said. "She was starting things off, knocking in runs and hitting the ball out of the park. Fifield just had an outstanding day and just put us on her back. I was really pleased with Gianna Nicoletti's defensive play in the outfield. She made some great plays, some double plays, throws to the plate and just solid defense."

Redhawks battle back to take Game 2

After a scoreless inning and a half in Game 2, the Lopes got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. GCU junior second baseman Savannah Tourville led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Aguilar-Beaucage doubled to right-center, putting runners on second and third for the Lopes. A walk by sophomore right fielder Jaiden Reid loaded the based for GCU. With one out, senior catcher Kaylee Dietrich hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Tourville.

"Tabitha Dyer's start on the rubber was just unbelievable," Pierson said. "Not only fielding her position but keeping them off balance and was very efficient with her pitches and just getting us back in the dugout."

Dyer kept the Redhawks off the board for three innings, but Seattle managed to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning.

After another scoreless inning on both sides, the Redhawks took the lead over the Lopes in the top of the sixth inning by scoring one run on two hits.

The Lopes responded in the bottom half of the inning, as Tourville singled to center field to lead off the inning. With a 2-0 count, Fifield hit her second home run of the day, this time to left-center field to give the Lopes a 3-2 lead heading into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Seattle managed three runs on two hits to reclaim the lead from the Lopes and secure the day's second win.

"We just have to keep taking every moment as a learning experience, certainly heading into Senior Day (on Saturday) but also into the WAC Tournament next week," Pierson said.

The Lopes are back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday as they complete the series with Seattle and honor their five seniors at GCU Softball Stadium.