Dunckel 2-homer game finishes road sweep

Saturday, March 26

St. George, Utah

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Dixie State

3/26/2022 1:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU stays 1st in WAC West, hangs 7-run 5th in run-rule win at Dixie State

By: Kellie Reynolds

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Grand Canyon softball team secured the sweep at Dixie State on Saturday by putting up a seven spot in the top of the fifth inning to secure a 10-2, run-rule win over the Trailblazers.

GCU (22-9, 5-1 WAC) smacked seven extra-base hits in the series finale with sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel knocking in a career-high five RBIs with the first two-home run game of her career. Dunkckel, who played two innings of Friday's doubleheader because of a collision, has five home runs this season with all of them coming in the last seven games.

The sweep keeps the Lopes atop the WAC West Division.

"Ariel (Thompson) was solid again today and our whole lineup did good," GCU head coach Shanon Hays said. "Macee (Barnes) and KK (Dunckel) obviously had great at bats. I felt like our speed, combined with some timely power, really proved to be great this weekend on the road. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling at home next week."

For the first time in the series, Dixie State started out on top by scoring one run on one three hits in the bottom of the first inning.

The Lopes tied it in the top of the third inning when senior third baseman Savannah Tourville drew a leadoff walk. Freshman pinchrunner Emma Villaescusa. Villaescusa stole second before senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti doubled to left to bring her home and tie the game at 1-1.

GCU took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a rally that started with graduate first baseman Denae Chatman drawing a leadoff walk. Dunckel hit a two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Lopes a 3-1 lead.

Dixie State cut the lead to one run when it scored one run on two hits in the fourth inning, but Lopes junior Macee Barnes started the fifth inning with a triple and scored on Nicoletti's ground ball to stretch the lead to 4-2.

GCU junior Hannah Burnett was hit by a pitch and stole second, allowing her to score on a single up the middle from Chatman. Senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow followed with a single to left field putting runners on first and second for Dunckel.

Dunckel hit her second home run of the game with a three-run shot to center field. Graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed followed with a single to center field and scored on a double from Tourville. Barnes collected her second extra-base hit of the inning by doubling to center and scoring Tourville for a 10-2 lead.

Thompson, GCU's junior right-handed pitcher, picked up her 11th win of the season and ninth complete game.

The Lopes are back in action on Friday against California Baptist at 2 p.m. in their first home WAC series.