Lopes host CBU in 1st home WAC series


Grand Canyon Lopes (22-9, 5-1 WAC)	vs	CBU Lancers (21-16, 4-2 WAC)
		Friday-Saturday, April 1-2 Friday: 2 & 4 p.m. (Phoenix time) Saturday: 1p.m. (Phoenix time)
Game notes		Live video Live stats

The Grand Canyon softball team hosts California Baptist for its first home WAC series after being on the road for two straight weeks. The Lopes are in first place in the WAC West Division with CBU and Seattle U both one game behind GCU.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

IN THE RANKINGS: The Lopes are 13th in the nation for batting average (.329), second in stolen bases per game (2.61), first in stolen bases (81) and 22nd in runs per game (6.29). In the circle, the Lopes staff is posting a 2.57 ERA that ranks 44th in the nation.
PLAYERS IN THE RANKINGS: Senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti is second in the nation in stolen bases with 29, just five behind Alexis Johns of South Florida. Sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel is 29th in the nation for batting average (.446), 32nd for on-base percentage (.535) and 47th in RBIs per game (1.03). First baseman Denae Chatman is 18th with 35 RBIs, 27th in RBIs per game at 1.13 and 28th in home runs with 10.
VS. CBU: The Lopes are 7-9 all-time against the Lancers. The last time GCU took the series from CBU was in 2019, when the Lopes won the first two games and dropped the final in Riverside. Last year, the Lopes managed to avoid the sweep by taking the final game of the series in Riverside.

SCOUTING

CBU comes into the third WAC weekend with an overall record of 21-16 and a 4-2 conference record. Most recently, the Lancers swept New Mexico State in Riverside after dropping two of three games at Seattle U.

The Lancers were picked to place fifth in the WAC West Division with no players on Preseason All-WAC. CBU's Katelyn Mangrello and Jazmine Castaneda each earned one WAC weekly award for the Lancers. Mangrello earned WAC Hitter of the Week on March 14 after going 8 for 12 and Castaneda earned WAC Pitcher of the Week for three wins over the same weekend.

The Lancers are hitting .241 with a slugging percentage of .334 and an on-base percentage of .315. They have 218 hits, including a WAC-high 43 doubles. In the circle, the Lancers' four-person pitching staff is posting a 2.75 ERA. They have thrown 13 complete games, three shutouts, and collected four saves in 244 innings. The staff has given up 240 hits, 126 runs, 96 earned, and.250 hitting. They have fanned 176 batters and given up 17 home runs.

Mangrello, a junior catcher for the Lancers, is leading the team in almost every offensive category: batting average (.385), slugging percentage (.549), on-base percentage (.424), hits (35), doubles (12) and RBIs (20). Sophomore third baseman Maile Olsen is also a threat in the batter's box for CBU, as she is hitting .301 with a slugging percentage of .434. Olsen has 25 hits, including eight doubles and one home run.

In the circle, Alyssa Argomaniz is the Lancers ace with 99.1 innings and an ERA of 2.26 and a 9-6 record. The sophomore has made 18 starts and appeared in 24 games for CBU. She has thrown six complete games with one shutoutthree saves and a team-high 75 strikeouts. Jazmine Castaneda is second in innings pitched with 86. She has an ERA of 3.01 with a 10-5 record. She has made 10 starts and appeared in 22 games while throwing six complete games and one shutout. She is second in strikeouts with 53.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lopes swept Dixie State in St. George, Utah, to take sole possession of first place in the WAC West Division.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lopes will host Utah Valley on April 8 and 9 for a WAC three-game series.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Denae Chatman

Katelyn Dunckel

Gianna Nicoletti

Grand Canyon University Athletics