Lopes welcome 3 teams for GCU Invitational


Grand Canyon Lopes (12-3)	vs.	Binghamton Bearcats (6-4)	Montana Grizzles (6-9)
		Friday, March 5 3:00 p.m.	Friday, March 5 5:30 p.m.
Game notes		Live video Live stats	Live video Live stats

The Grand Canyon softball team hosts its fourth weekend in a row with the GCU Invitational. The Lopes start off the weekend with Binghamton and will play them twice along with Montana and then close out the weekend with San Jose State.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

TOP 3 IN THE NATION: The Lopes have stolen 48 bases this season to be ranked first in the nation. Senior outfielder Gianna Nicoletti is currently tied for first in stolen bases with 16 in 15 games played. First baseman Denae Chatman is third in the nation for total RBIs with 23.
WAC HITTER OF THE WEEK: Junior third baseman Hannah Burnett earned her first WAC Hitter of the Week award for her performance at the Lopes Up Classic this weekend. Burnett, from Independence, Kansas, had an impressive weekend as she went 8 for 11 with two RBIs and three runs scored, including the winning run against Colgate to complete GCU's 4-0 home event. The third baseman collected two hits in each of the Lopes four wins. She was 2 for 2 in their opening victory against Incarnate Word. Burnett also provided speed on the bases, going 3 for 3 on steal attempts.
THREE TEAMS: The Lopes will take on three different teams this weekend. GCU opens the tournament with Binghamton at 3 p.m. ad will take on the Bearcats and Montana twice before closing out the weekend with San Jose State.

SCOUTING

Binghamton comes into the GCU Invitational with a 6-4 record after playing in the Bash in the Boro and the College of Charleston Tournament. The Bearcats did not play last weekend. The Bearcats are coached by first year head coach Jess Bump who graduate from Binghamton in 2014. Binghamton was picked to finish fourth in the America East Conference and return three second-team all-conference selections in senior infielders Marissa Braito and Makayla Alvarez as well as senior utility player Sophia Pappas.

Two Bearcats have earned America East weekly awards. Allison L'Amoreaux earned player of the week while Alayna Harbaugh picked up Rookie of the week for their performance at the College of Charleston Tournament. Senior utility player Alli Richmond is the top hitter for the Bearcats with a .379 average collecting 11 hits, five doubles, one home run, and five RBIs. She is second in slugging percentage (.655) and third in on base percentage (.406). L'Amoreaux has totaled eight hits on the season with a high of three home runs for the Bearcats. She has a team best slugging percentage (.667) and RBIs with six. She has also logged the most innings in the circle with 35.0 and has an ERA of 2.20. The New York native has a 4-1 record, thrown three complete games including a shutout and hitters are hitting .227 against her. She has given up 29 hits, 12 runs, 11 earned runs, and struck out 28 batters. Chelsea Howard is second in innings with 25.0 and an ERA of 3.08. The graduate student has made four starts and appeared in five games. She has thrown two complete games including a shutout and has a 2-2 record. Batters are hitting .250 against her totaling 23 hits, 12 runs, 11 earned runs and striking out 19 times.

Montana enters the GCU Invitational with a 6-9 record after playing in the Nor Cal Kickoff, Tracy Beard College Classic and the Outrigger Hawaii Invitational. The Griz and Lopes have played one common opponent in Colorado State, Montana split with the Rams beating them (7-1) and then falling to them (3-8). In their last tournament the Griz went 1-4 falling to WAC opponent Abilene Christian, Hawai'i, and North Dakota. Their only win came against North Dakota in a 1-0 battle.

As a team the Griz are hitting .248 with a slugging percentage of .341 and an on base of .326. As a team they have totaled 99 hits including 16 doubles and seven home runs. In the circle their three-pitcher staff has a 3.70 combined ERA with 98.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .300 against them with 116 total hits including 13 doubles, four triples, and four home runs.

Allie Brock is the Griz go to in the circle with 48.0 innings she has earned the only Big Sky Pitcher of the Week award for Montana this season. She has made eight starts and appeared in 10 games throwing three complete games including a shutout. The sophomore has a team high ERA of 4.67 with a 4-5 record. Freshman pitcher Dana Butterfield has close behind in innings pitched with 46.0. She has a team best ERA of 2.74 with a 2-4 record along with six starts and nine appearances. Butterfield has thrown five complete games including a shutout. At the plate Julie Phelps has a team best .366 average. The junior has totaled 15 hits including two doubles and a home run. She is tied for first on the team with nine RBIs. Cami Sellers is second in average for Montana (.362) but first in slugging percentage (.575) and on base percentage (.455). The graduate student has a team best 17 hits and two home runs.

San Jose comes into the GCU Invitational with a 9-5 record after taking on the Nor Cal Kickoff, Stanford Invitational, and SVC Classic I. The Spartans and Lopes have played one similar opponent in Santa Clara. SJU took down the Broncos both times the two teams met. The Spartans were picked to finish tied for eighth in the Mountain West Conference. As a team the Spartans are hitting .297 with a .411 slugging and a .377 on base percentage. They have totaled 113 hits with 17 doubles, seven triples, and four home runs. In the circle SJU has a combined ERA of 2.23. in 94.0 innings pitched they have given up 90 hits, 42 runs, 30 earned runs and struck out 73 batters. Opponents are hitting .249 against them.

Jules Ronquillo is the only Spartan to have started in all 14 games San Jose. She is hitting .267 with 12 hits including a triple. Trenity Edwards is the top hitter for SJU at .390 with a .439 slugging percentage and .479 on base percentage. The junior has collected 16 hits including two doubles and eight RBIs. Senior third baseman Alyssa Graham has totaled the most hits (17) and at bats (46). She has a team best slugging percentage of .609 with two home runs, three doubles, and a triple. Pitcher Jenessa Ullegue has totaled 30.2 innings on the rubber for the Spartans and has a 1.37 ERA. She has a perfect 6-0 record with two starts and eight appearances on the season. The senior has given up 22 hits, seven runs, six earned runs, and struck out 27 hitters.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lopes went 4-0 at the Lopes Up Classis taking down four different opponents.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lopes will host Ball State on March 9 at 6 p.m. in the GCU Softball Stadium.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Burnett

Denae Chatman

Gianna Nicoletti

Grand Canyon University Athletics