GCU finishes Lopes Up Classic 4-0

Saturday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-3

Pacific

3-9

Pacific

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

2/26/2022 11:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Late rallies push Lopes to 2-0 Saturday

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team closed out the Lopes Up Classic on Saturday night with Pacific and Colgate. GCU got behind early against the Tigers and Raiders but rallied and picked two wins on the day.

"Today was a little shaky for the Lopes," GCU head coach Shanon Hays. "We did not make some plays in the second game, and we did not pitch it well either, but it was good we found a way to win. Denae Chatman had another really good day and Hannah Burnett had an awesome weekend as well as Gianna Nicoletti. Ariel Thompson started off slow but finished well and in the second game. It was great to get Kennedie Magorian her first collegiate win. We need this coming week to get better at something and get our legs back!"

Pacific got on the board first scoring two runs on four hits. The Lopes did not answer in the bottom of the first, but junior right hander Ariel Thompson settled in and had her first one, two, three inning of the game. In the bottom of the second the Lopes chipped away at the Tigers lead as catcher Kinsey Koeltzow doubled to left center to start of the inning and advanced to second on a ground ball. A single up the middle from third baseman Hannah Burnett brought home Koeltzow and cut the lead to 1-2.

The Tigers scored their final run of the game in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead over the Lopes. In the bottom of the third inning shortstop Katelyn Dunckel drew a one out walk and stole second. With two outs and Dunckel on second base the Tigers attempted to pick her off second but threw the ball into the outfield allowing the Lopes their second run of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a walk and stole second and then stole third and ended up scoring on a miss que by the Tigers defense. Center fielder Stephanie Reed followed with a triple to right field and then scored on a single to short off the bat of Dunckel. Getting herself into scoring position was Dunckel as she stole second and then scored on a single from first baseman Denae Chatman giving the Lopes the lead for the first time in the game at 5-3.

The Lopes added some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Nicoletti started off the inning with a triple to left field and then scored on a squeeze bunt from Dunckel. Once again Dunckel stole second and then scored on a single to left field from Chatman. With runners on first and second with two outs sophomore Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage singled to left field scoring Chatman. The Lopes added one more urn as Burnett singled to shortstop allowing Koeltzow to score.

Lopes late rally improves them to 12-3

Similar story in the Lopes second game of the day as Colgate struck first scoring one run on two hits in the top of the first inning. GCU responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two out rally started by Dunckel who doubled to right field and then was brought home by Chatman's seventh home run of the season giving the Lopes a 2-1 lead.

Once again, the Lopes got a rally going with two outs. This time it was Burnett who beat out an infield single and then stole second. Nicoletti collected her first hit of the game with a single through the right side and scoring Burnett increasing the Lopes lead to two runs.

In the top of the third inning the Raiders tied the game up at three all scoring two runs off two hits and a GCU error. The Lopes tried to get a rally going in the bottom half of the inning as Chatman drew a leadoff walk but it would stop there for the Lopes.

After allowing back-to-back singles to start off the fourth inning Jacie Hambrick settled in and got herself out of the jam. Second baseman Macee Barnes started off the bottom half of the inning with a double to left center and moved to third on a fly out by Nicoletti to deep center. However, Barnes would be stranded on third.

In the top of the fourth inning the Raiders took the lead back scoring one run on three hits. The Lopes responded in the bottom half of the inning as Chatman drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single up the middle by right fielder Kristin Fifield. GCU loaded the bases for Barnes, and she delivered with a single to short stop scoring Chatman and tying it up at four all.

Neither team managed to score in the sixth inning, the Raiders however got on the board in the top of the seventh scoring one run on one hit and one GCU hit. The Lopes rallied back in the bottom of the inning with two outs as Aguilar-Beaucage reached on an error and then moved to second on a single by Burnett. After a double steal by Aguilar-Beaucage and Burnett the Lopes walked it off as Barnes hit a ground ball to shortstop allowing both runners to score.