Late rally comes up short to Fullerton

Saturday, February 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

2/19/2022 8:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Nicoletti collects 2 hits; Eastburn throws 2 shutout relief innings

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team fell 7-4 to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night after taking an early lead and putting together a seventh-inning rally at GCU Softball Stadium.

Lopes starting pitcher Jacie Hambrick put together a perfect first inning to set up GCU jumping out to an early lead after senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti reached third on a leadoff single and back-to-back ground balls. First baseman Denae Chatman drew a two-out walk, bringing up right fielder Kristin Fifield for a RBI single tro center. Chatman also crossed the plate on an error, giving the Lopes a 2-0 lead. Junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow followed with a single up the middle, scoring Fifield for a 3-0 lead.

GCU threatened in the bottom of the second inning, as junior Macee Barnes singled to center field and then stole second. Barnes got to third on a ground ball to the right side, but she would be stranded there.

The Titians took the lead from the Lopes in the top of the third inning, when they scored six runs on eight hits and two Lopes errors.

GCU junior pitcher Ariel Thompson shut down Fullerton in the fourth, but the Titans added one more run in the fifth inning for a 7-3 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lopes junior Hannah Burnett drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. A pinch-hit single up the middle by junior Jocellyn La Flesch scored Burnett, cutting the Titians lead to 7-4. Nicoletti singled up the middle and moved to second on an error by Fullerton. With runners on second and third with one out, sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel drew a walk to load the bases before Fullerton escaped with a strikeout and a fly out.