Lopes open season with pair of run-rule wins

Friday, February 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0

Northern Colorado

0-2

Northen Colorado

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

2/11/2022 10:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

GCU records 1st opening-night win since 2019, wins by 8 twice

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team opened the season with an 8-0, run-rule victory against Northern Colorado. getting a GCU Kickoff Classic win that marked the Lopes' first opening night win since 2019.

GCU junior right-handed pitcher Ariel Thompson, a transfer from North Texas, allowed three hits and struck out six batters in a five-inning complete game. Returning outfielders Kristin Fifield (four RBIs) and Gianna Nicoletti (three runs, three steals) led a Lopes offense that scored in each inning.

"I was obviously happy how our kids were ready to go," said Lopes head coach Shanon Hays. "Ariel set the tone and threw well. The depth of our lineup showed tonight. Ever had some good at bats. It was a good start and now we have to get ready for tomorrow."

Thompson retired the first three batters that she faced, striking out two of them to bring GCU to the plate. Nicoletti, a senior left fielder, started where she left off a season ago, as she drew a walk and stole second base.

A single by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel moved Nicoletti to third and allowed her to score when the Bears attempted to catch Dunckel stealing second. Fifield, a junior right fielder, cleared the bases with a monstrous home run to right field, giving the Lopes a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Thompson kept Northern Colorado off the board in the second inning and the Lopes started its half again with Nicoletti drawing a walk and stealing second. Center fielder Stephanie Reed followed with a walk and Nicoletti took third on a wild pitch. Reed stole second and Nicoletti took home on the delayed double steal, lifting the Lopes to a 4-0 lead.

Thompson retired the Bears in order in the third inning, when GCU added one more run off a solo home run by graduate first baseman Denae Chatman for a 5-0 lead.

Thompson tossed her third three-up, three-down inning in the fourth, allowing Nicoletti to lead off once again. This time, she hit a single to third base. Dunckel followed with another infield single. With runners on second and third, Fifield singled to right to score both for a 7-0 lead.

After another scoreless inning for Thompson, senior third baseman Savannah Tourville started off the bottom half of the fifth inning with a single to short and second baseman Macee Barnes followed with a single through the left side. Nicoletti picked up her second hit with a bunt single that loaded the bases for Reed, whose single up the middle gave Lopes the 8-0 run-rule win.

GCU repeats run rule to takes down Fordham in 5

GCU pounced on Fordham with five-run first inning on the way to another run-rule victory in the Friday nigthcap, a 10-2 win led by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Ducnkel going 3 for 3 and Chatman knocking in three runs in a 3-for-4 game.

In similar fashion to Game 1, the Lopes starting pitcher, sophomore Jacie Hambrick, threw a perfect first inning and got Nicoletti to the plate as soon as possible. Nicoletti drew her third walk of the night and Reed followed with another, setting the table for Dunckel.

Dunckel's double to center put two on the board for the Lopes. Fifield followed with a single to center, scoring Dunckel. A third ball into center field, this time from Chatman, put runners on first and third. The fourth run of the inning came off a wild pitch and the GCU lead went to 5-0 on a Fordham error.

The Lopes surrendered their first run of the night in the top of the second, when the Rams strung together a few singles. Hambrick got out of a one-out jam with a ground-ball double play that was started by Barnes at second.

GCU got the run back and added another in the bottom of the second. Dunckel started the Lopes rally by getting hit by a pitch and Fifield followed with a single to center, putting runners on the corners for Chatman. A single to center by Chatman scored Dunckel and Fifield for a 7-1 lead.

Fordham tacked on one more run in the top of the third, but the Lopes added one more run in the bottom half of the inning when Reed's single scored Barnes to make it 8-2.

With sophomore Kaila Eastburn pitching in relief, GCU held Fordham to scoreless fourth and fifth innings. Easburn allowed one hit and struck out three.

Barnes started the bottom of the fifth with a walk, stole second and advanced to third during Nicoletti's at bat. Reed grounded out to shortstop, scoring Barnes for 9-2 lead. Consecutive singles to center by Dunckel, Fifield and Chatman pushed the final run across for the Lopes to secure the second run-rule win of the night.

The Lopes return to GCU Softball Stadium on Saturday night for a 6 p.m. game against Weber State and an 8:15 p.m. game against Kansas. Start times may be subject to delay from earlier games in the GCU Kickoff Classic.