GCU wins 9th consecutive game

Saturday, February 18

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-0

Portland State

3-6

Portland State

Grand Canyon

2/18/2023 11:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes dominate Portland State in 5, shut out Wildcats

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon continued its winning ways with a 16-8, five inning, victory over Portland State, and a 6-0 performance against Weber State on day two of the Littlewood Classic.

GCU dominates Portland State in 5 innings

The Lopes came out swinging, recording eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, senior first baseman Ramsay Lopez singled to left center to bring junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel home, and with two outs, the Lopes scored seven runs on the Vikings featuring two RBIs for junior pinch hitter Kaitlyn Brannstrom, two RBIs for senior second baseman Macee Barnes and a two-run home run for senior right fielder Kristin Fifield.

Although Portland State answered with six runs in the top of the second, winning pitcher, senior Kaila Eastburn and the Lopes defense held the Vikings off in the top of the third, before scoring five additional runs in the bottom of the inning, including a Fifield three-run homer.

After holding Portland State hitless in the top of the fourth, senior third baseman Madison Schaefer clocked a three-run homerun over the center field wall to tally 16 for GCU.

In a 16-8 effort, the Lopes posted their fourth run-rule of nine games in the 2023 season.

Lopes shut out Wildcats

Grand Canyon struck first as a Lopez single advanced Schaefer to second and scored Dunckel early in the bottom of the first to put GCU on the board. With two on, junior designated player CC Wong singled to third, and loaded the bases. Junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers then sent Schaefer home after being hit by a pitch and advancing to first base.

With two three and outs, GCU was up to bat in the third frame. Freshman pinch hitter Brynn-Jordan Smythe led off the Lopes with an electric triple to left field, followed by a single up the middle from senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow to bring Smyth across the plate.

Senior pitcher Hailey Hudson and a dominant Lopes defense, held the Wildcats hitless through two at-bats, respectively forcing three and outs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings.

Hit by a pitch, Rodgers once again took her base in the bottom of the fifth, and was batted in by Koeltzow, on a double, to add to the Lopes lead of 4-0.

After another hitless, three and out half inning for the Wildcats, the Lopes took their final at-bat. A single up the middle from Dunckel and a Schaefer home run increased the Lopes lead by two, before shutting out Weber State at home.

No. 13 Arizona ends No. 24 GCU's 47-8 season

Saturday, May 17

3-homer inning keeps GCU alive at Tucson Regional

Saturday, May 17

Ole Miss rally sends GCU to must-win regional game

Friday, May 16

GCU sheds unknown tag entering regional vs. Ole Miss

Thursday, May 15

Next Event

Oregon State

L, 4-5

Feb 19 (Sun)

11:30 a.m.

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Eastburn, Kaila (1-0)

L: ROSE, Bailey (0-1)

Portland State

Batting:

HR: JOHANSEN, Emily 1

RBI: THOMPSON, Maddie 1 ; JOHANSEN, Emily 3 ; LOPEZ, Paetynn 1 ; NOLAND, Bailee 1 ; CEPEDA, Alexa 2

SF: NOLAND, Bailee 1

Base Running:

RUNS: THOMPSON, Maddie 1 ; JOHANSEN, Emily 2 ; RIGGENBACH, Logan 1 ; HOLDEN, Trinity 1 ; NOLAND, Bailee 1 ; BABBITT, Ellie 1 ; CEPEDA, Alexa 1

HBP: RIGGENBACH, Logan 1 ; HOLDEN, Trinity 2

Grand Canyon

Batting:

2B: Rodgers, Kayla 1 ; Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 1

HR: Fifield, Kristin 2 ; Schaefer, Madison 1

RBI: Fifield, Kristin 5 ; Schaefer, Madison 3 ; Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Villalobos, Annie 1 ; Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 2 ; Barnes, Macee 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Fifield, Kristin 3 ; Dunckel, Katelyn 1 ; Schaefer, Madison 2 ; Rodrigues, Emma 1 ; Lutu, Leinani 1 ; Rodgers, Kayla 1 ; Villalobos, Annie 1 ; Payne, Mikaela 1 ; Burnett, Hannah 2 ; Barnes, Macee 3