Darwin pitches GCU's 1st perfect game, moves to 4-0

Saturday, February 11

San Antonio, Texas

9 a.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

3-0

Green Bay

0-3

Green Bay

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Adrianna Candelaria

2/11/2023 8:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Sophomore dominates Green Bay; Lopes blank Incarnate Word for program-best shutout streak

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon softball conintued its first multiple-shutout start to a season, repeating another 2-0 day with sophomore pitcher Emily Darwin delivering the program's first-ever perfect game on Saturday at the Cardinal Classic. The Lopes downed Green Bay 9-0 in Darwin's five-inning GCU debut before the team followed up with a 6-0 win against host Incarnate Word.

The Lopes (4-0) are off to the program's best start since winning the first seven games of the 2017 season.

Darwin pitches perfect game in DI debut

Darwin dominated her Division I debut, throwing not only the seventh no-hitter of GCU's Division I era, but the first perfect game in program history. In five innings, the native of Benson, Arizona, and former Yavapai College pitcher struck out seven Green Bay batters.

The Lopes also found fire offensively, going up 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning with senior right fielder Kristin Fifield continuing her hot hitting with an RBI single to start the scoring. GCU built its lead to 7-0 with four runs in the bottom of the third before topping it off with an additional run in the bottom of the fourth.

Lopes beat UIW 6-0

GCU's fourth starting pitcher of the Cardinal Classic threw a shutout in Saturday's second game, a 6-0 victory against host Incarnate Word.

Lopes sophomore Megan Golden, a Peoria Centennial High School product, combined with Hudson and senior Kaila Eastburn in relief for a seven-strikeout, seven-inning shutout.

GCU senior third baseman Madison Schaefer singled to right field, advancing junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel to third and sending Fifield home for the Lopes first run of the game. Dunckel ultimately stole home and gave GCU a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

With a fly out to left field in the third, senior first baseman Ramsay Lopez batted Dunckel in and junior outfielder Kayla Rodgers hit a single to center field to bring Schaefer across the plate.

In the sixth, Fifield doubled to right field, knocking in senior second baseman Macee Barnes and senior center fielder Hannah Burnett for a winning score of 6-0.

GCU will finish the Cardinal Classic on Sunday at 9 a.m. (Phoenix Time) against Eastern Illinois.