Lopes takes 2 at Dixie State

Friday, March 25

St. George, Utah

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

20-9, 3-1

Dixie State

11-17, 2-2

Grand Canyon

Dixie State

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/25/2022 6:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU edge Trailblazers in extras, then win in run-rule fashion

By: Kellie Reynolds

ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Grand Canyon softball team opened its second WAC series with a Friday doubleheader sweep at Dixie State.

GCU and Dixie State went into extra innings in Game 1 before the Lopes won 3-2. GCU (21-9, 4-1 WAC) kept its momentum by finishing off the Trailblazers early in Game 2, routing them 12-3.

"Two big wins today on the road," Lopes head coach Shanon Hays said. "Ariel (Thompson) threw well in the first game and Jacie (Hambrick) and Kaila (Eastburn) combined to get us through the second. We hung tough in Game 1 and made some good defensive plays. Denae (Chatman) hit the clutch bomb that got us over the hump. We hit the ball better than our stats showed and their outfield made a couple of really good plays."

The Lopes got on the board first in the top of the second inning with one out as junior right fielder Kristin Fifield singled to right field with junior designated player Hannah Burnett following with an infield single. With runners on first and third and two outs, junior second baseman Macee Barnes singled up the middle to bring home Fifield and Burnett.

Dixie State responded in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on two hits to tie the game at 2-2. After giving up two runs, junior pitcher Ariel Thompson struck out the following two batters. Thompson kept the Trailblazers off the board for the remainder of the game.

GCU took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth when graduate first baseman Denae Chatman recorded home run No. 10 of the season with a solo shot to left center field.

Thompson retired the Trailblazers in order in the bottom half to earn her 10th win of the season.

Lopes down Trailblazers in 6 innings

"Second game, our offense really stepped us," Hays said. "Kinsey (Koeltzow) had a super day at the plate after she made some adjustments. Our whole lineup did good things that was to see especially with Katelyn Dunckel out of the game following a big collision at second in Game 1. She should be fine tomorrow, so hopefully we will have another good day."

GCU got on the board first in the second game as well, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With one out, Burnett singled to third base with Fifield following with a single to left that put runners on first and second. Junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow drew a walk to load the bases for graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed. Reed singled through the left side, scoring two for the Lopes.

Dixie State cut the Lopes lead in half with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jacie Hambrick shut down the Trailblazer in the rest of the inning.

In the top of the third with one out, Chatman beat out an infield single. Koeltzow followed with a double to right center, scoring Chatman and moving to third on the throw to the plate. Reed recorded her third RBI of the game with a ground out to second, scoring Koeltzow and taking a 4-1 lead.

Hambrick kept Dixie State off the board in the bottom half of the third inning. The Lopes kept their momentum going into the top of the fourth inning, when Burnett recorded her second hit of the game and moved to second on a bunt single by Fifield. With runners on first and third with one out, Koeltzow singled up the middle to score Burnett. Senior third baseman Savannah Tourville drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk that gave the Lopes a five-run lead. Barnes legged out an infield single, allowing Koeltzow to score.

The Trailblazers cut the Lopes lead to 7-3 after scoring two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning.

GCU responded in the top of the fifth inning. Burnett led off with her third hit of the game and Fifield followed with her third hit as well. With one out, Koeltzow cleared the bases with a three-run home run to center field, giving the Lopes a 10-3 lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, Tourville led off with a double to right center field. Senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti recorded an infield single with one out to move Tourville to third. Tourville scored on an error by Dixie State. With the bases loaded and two outs, Nicoletti scored on a wild pitch giving the Lopes a 12-3 lead that ended the game in six innings.