Aggies visit for 2nd meeting with Lopes


Grand Canyon Lopes (30-10, 13-2 WAC)	vs.	New Mexico State Aggies (10-26, 5-10 WAC)
		Friday-Saturday, April 22-23 Friday: 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Phoenix time) Saturday: 1 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Game notes		Live video Live stats

The first-place Grand Canyon softball team returns to GCU Softball Stadium for a rematch with New Mexico State, which the Lopes beat in two of three meetings earlier this season in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

NCAA RANKINGS: GCU comes in at 11th in the nation and first in the WAC for batting average at .330. The Lopes are also 20th in scoring, averaging 6.4 runs per game. With a .506 slugging percentage, GCU ranked 31st.
ALONE AT THE TOP: GCU has a four-game West Division lead on the Redhawks, who are in second place with the next closest team being Utah Valley at six games back.
SECOND MEETING: The Lopes and Aggies met earlier in the season in the Lopes' first road trip and the WAC series opener. Despite dropping Game 1 in extra innings, GCU took the March 18-19 series by outscoring NMSU 34-7 in the next two games combined.

SCOUTING

New Mexico State comes into Phoenix with a 10-26 record. Half of its wins came in WAC play to be 5-10 and tied with Dixie State.

The Lopes and Aggies met in the opening weekend of WAC play when GCU took the series from NMSU despite dropping the first game in extra innings. GCU totaled 41 runs in the three-game series with 34 of them coming in the Saturday doubleheader. Most recently, the Aggies dropped their series with Dixie State in St. George, Utah. NMSU managed to avoid the sweep as it defeated the Trailblazers in the last game. NMSU has won one series in WAC play thus far, taking two of three games against Utah Valley. The Aggies also only have been swept once with that coming in Riverside to CBU.

As a team, the Aggies are hitting .318 and ranked second in the WAC behind the Lopes. They lead the conference in home runs with 47. They also have totaled 42 doubles, three triples, and have a slugging percentage of .518. The Aggies are struggling in the circle as they are posting a 10.26 team ERA. They have allowed 350 runs with 315 being earned and 391 hits. Hitters are batting .391 against them while drawing 178 walks and totaling 75 doubles, 68 home runs, and 10 triples.

Sophomore Taylor Jillian is the Aggies best hitter as she is posting a .393 average with 33 hits, including seven doubles and four home runs. She has scored 29 runs and knocked in 16 runs. Bowen is the only Aggie to start in all 36 games this season. She is hitting .372 with a team-best 42 hits, 32 RBIs and 10 doubles. She is second in home runs with eight. Fellow sophomore Ramsay Lopez has played in all 36 games and started all but one. She has a team-best 12 home runs and runs with 30 RBIs. She is hitting .340 with 33 hits and four doubles.

In the circle, Jordin King has logged the most innings for the Aggies with 93.1. She has a team-best ERA of 8.78 with a record of 6-10 while making 14 starts and appearing in 24 games. She has thrown three complete games this season. The freshman has given up 30 doubles, 27 home runs, and six triples. She has a team high in strikeouts with 57 and walks with 75.

LAST TIME OUT
GCU swept Seattle U in Seattle for the first time. The Lopes tossed two shutouts, including a no-hitter from junior Ariel Thompson.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lopes will host Dixie State on April 30-May 1 in their final home WAC series with Senior Day being before the Saturday game.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ariel Thompson

Grand Canyon University Athletics