Lopes drop WAC opener in extras at NMSU

Friday, March 18

Las Cruces, N.M.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

17-8, 0-1

New Mexico State

6-15, 1-0

Grand Canyon

NM State

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/18/2022 8:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU's Barnes went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles in road loss

By: Kellie Reynolds

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Grand Canyon softball team hit the road for the first time this season and opened WAC play Friday night with an extra-inning loss at New Mexico State. The Lopes forced extra innings with a seventh-inning run but lost 8-7 when the Aggies scored with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

GCU senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti, junior second baseman Macee Barnes and junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow each collected two hits with Nicoletti reaching bases four times from the leadoff spot. The Lopes (17-8, 0-1 WAC) and Aggies (6-15, 1-0 WAC) will play again Saturday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

In the top of the first inning, the Lopes loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by batter. They scored their first run as junior right fielder Kristin Fifield drew a walk to score Nicoletti. GCU graduate first baseman Denae Chatman followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring center fielder Stephanie Reed home for a 2-0 Lopes lead.

The Aggies tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning on one hit. NMSU took the lead in the bottom of the third with one run on one hit and extended its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third with three runs off three hits.

GCU responded in the top of the fourth inning as senior third baseman Savannah Tourville was hit by a pitch to start the inning. A double to right center field off the bat of Barnes scored Tourville and started a rally. Nicoletti followed with a single to left field, allowing Barnes to score. With two outs and no one on base, sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel hit her first home run as a Lope and cut the Aggies lead to 6-5.

It was Barnes again starting the Lopes rally in the top of the sixth inning, when she doubled down the left field line. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Reed and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dunckel to tie the game at 6-6.

The Aggies took the lead back in the bottom half of the sixth, using two hits to score for a 7-6 lead.

Facing their last opportunity, the Lopes rallied off a one-out double down the left field line by Koeltzow. Freshman pinchrunner Emma Villaescusa moved to third and then home on a pair of wild pitches to tie the game at 7-7.

The Lopes held the Aggies in the bottom of the seventh inning to force an extra inning. GCU was unable to score in the top of the eighth inning and nearly fought off the Aggies, but NMSU scored the winning run when a two-out walk was followed by an error.

The Lopes are back in action for a doubleheader with the Aggies on Saturday with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time).