Thompson no-hits Redhawks for sweep

Saturday, April 16

Seattle, Wash.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

30-10, 13-2

Seattle U

23-18, 9-6

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

4/16/2022 2:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU wins 6-0 at Seattle U to extend WAC lead to 4, reach 30 victories

By: Kellie Reynolds

SEATTLE – Grand Canyon junior pitcher Ariel Thompson threw her first career no-hitter Saturday at Seattle U to give GCU softball a 6-0 win, a series sweep and a four-game lead in the WAC West Division.

"Honestly, this weekend felt different than any other weekend," Thompson said. "This team does not understand how much I admire and appreciate every single one of them. I have never played for a team like this, nor a coaching staff. I did not know the end result of the game until the game ended. My mindset is pitch to pitch, one inning after next, and attack until you cannot anymore."

The Lopes (30-10, 13-2 WAC) swept their third WAC series of the season with Thompson's 13th complete game and third shutout of the season giving her a 15-3 record. GCU entered the weekend series with a one-game lead on Seattle U (23-16, 9-4 WAC) and outscored the Redhawks 16-1 for the Lopes' 11th win in their past 12 games.

"Congratulations to Ariel and (catcher) Kinsey (Koeltzow) on the no-no," Lopes head coach Shanon Hays said. "They worked great together and today. Ariel did a great job hitting her spots. Her curve was really good today."

After two scoreless innings at Logan Field with a GCU first-inning double play, the Lopes grabbed three runs in the top of the third inning. Lopes senior third baseman Savannah Tourville started off the inning with a double to left center. Junior second baseman Macee Barnes and senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti followed with back-to-back bunt singles.

With two outs, GCU graduate first baseman Denae Chatman singled to left field, scoring Barnes and Nicoletti. Junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow followed with a single to the pitcher for a 3-0 lead by scoring sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lopes added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning after Chatman started the rally with a one-out walk. Koeltzow doubled to left center to put the Lopes lead at 4-0. Graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed followed with a bunt single, putting runners on first and third. Reed stole second and Tourville was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up the Lopes to take a 5-0 lead on a wild pitch.

The Redhawks tried to get something going in the bottom of the sixth inning off a GCU error and hit batsman, but Thompson drew one of 11 Seattle U ground outs to maintain the shutout. The Claremore, Oklahoma, native struck out three batters with no walks to drop her season ERA to a conference-best 2.11.

GCU grabbed one more run in the top of the seventh inning when Nicoletti drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a Dunckel ground ball and scored on a pass ball for the 6-0 lead.

The Lopes are back in action on Friday when they take on New Mexico State at GCU Softball Stadium at 4:30 p.m.