Late rally pushes GCU past Montana

Friday, March 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

5:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-3

Montana

7-10

Montana

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/4/2022 8:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Coach Hays earned 200th Division I win

By: Kellie Reynolds

Grand Canyon softball head coach Shanon Hays earned his 200th Division I victory when the Lopes scored four runs in the seventh inning to beat Montana and extend their winning streak to seven games Friday night at GCU Softball Stadium.

"We hung in there and battled the last inning," Hays said. "Annie (Villalobos) delivered a timely hit and we finally strung together some at bats and made it happen. For six innings, we played poorly. Glad we did not give up. We need to do some things better tomorrow and tighten up our defense."

Montana (7-10) took an early lead over the Lopes (14-3) by scoring one run on one hit in the top of the first. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth inning, when GCU sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single from graduate first baseman Denae Chatman. The Lopes rally was halted there by the Grizz, leaving the score at 1-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, Montana came out swinging with three runs on two hits for a 4-1 lead.

However, GCU produced a rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh, starting with junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow singling through the left side. With runners on first and second and no outs, Villalobos ripped a RBI pinch-hit double to left center to bring the Lopes within two but one runner was thrown out.

Dunckel followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with one out. After a fly out left GCU trailing 4-2 with two outs and two on, graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed tied the game with a single through the left side. Junior right fielder Kristin Fifield clutched up and delivered another two-out single up the middle to score Reed with the winning run.

The Lopes are back in action against Montana on Saturday at 3 p.m. at GCU Softball Stadium.