Lopes keep West lead after sweeping CBU

Saturday, April 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

25-9, 0

California Baptist

21-19, 0

CBU

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

4/2/2022 4:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Chatman's single walks it off for Lopes in bottom of 7th

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon softball team closed out its second consecutive conference series sweep by rallying from a 3-0 hole in the final two innings Saturday against California Baptist at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes tied the game in the sixth inning and won 4-3 on graduate first baseman Denae Chatman's walk-off, bases-loaded single.

GCU sophomore pitcher Jamie Hambrick (10-5) retired the final five CBU batters to give the Lopes (25-9, 8-1 WAC) a chance at its second consecutive walk-off win, which kept them in first place in the WAC's West Division.

The Lancers struck first, scoring one run on one hit in the first inning. Lopes junior starting pitcher Ariel Thompson settled in after the first inning and kept CBU (21-19, 4-5 WAC) off the board in the second and third innings to give the Lopes a chance.

GCU threatened in the bottom of the third inning as senior third baseman Savannah Tourville led off with a double to right center. With one out, senior left fielder Gianna Nicoletti got on base off a CBU error and stole second to put Lopes at second and third with one out. GCU, however, left them there.

CBU extended its lead in the top of the sixth inning, when it scored two runs on three hits before Hambrick came in for relief and retired the first two batters she saw.

Sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel started a rally for the Lopes in the bottom of the sixth, leading off with a single to center field. Junior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow followed by getting hit by a pitch and putting runners on first and second with two outs for graduate center fielder Stephanie Reed. On the 10th pitch of Reed's at bat, she cleared the bases by double to right center. Tourville followed with her second double of the game, scoring Reed and tying the game at 3-3.

Hambrick kept the Lancers off the board in the top of the seventh, allowing the Lopes the chance to win it in regulation.

Nicoletti started the inning by reaching base on a CBU error and stealing her second base of the game. Junior third baseman Hannah Burnett and Dunckel drew back-to-back walks with no outs to load the bases for Chatman, who walked it off with a single up the middle that scored Nicoletti for the Lopes' sixth consecutive win.

The Lopes are back in action for a Friday doubleheader against Utah Valley at GCU Softball Stadium.