Lopes take down Bearcats at home

Friday, March 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-3

Binghamton

6-6

Binghamton

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/4/2022 5:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Chatman crushes her 8th home run for 27 RBIs this season

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team opened its fourth straight home tournament with a 6-4 win against Binghamton on Friday with graduate first baseman Denae Chatman producing four runs.

The Bearcats got on the board in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on two GCU errors. The Lopes responded in the bottom half, when senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti drew a lead-off walk and moved to third on a double to right-center field by graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed. With one out and runners on second and third, Chatman hit her eighth home run of the season with a three-run shot to right center.

GCU sophomore right-hander Jacie Hambrick settled in after the first inning and kept the Lopes lead at 3-1. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Lopes added to their lead when junior second baseman Macee Barnes and Nicoletti hit back-to-back singles with no outs. A single to left field by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel scored Barnes and Nicoletti, who had moved to second and third, and allowed herself to get to third after Binghamton threw the ball around. Chatman recorded her fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Lopes a 6-1 lead.

Binghamton responded in the top of the sixth inning with three runs on four hits, closing the gap to 6-4. Lopes sophomore pitcher Kaila Eastburn came in for relief and was able to blank the Bearcats in the seventh inning for the save.