Duo's doubleheader of no-hitters makes GCU history

Tuesday, February 28

Phoenix, Ariz.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-1

CSU Bakersfield

3-13

CSU Bakersfield

Grand Canyon

2/28/2023 11:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Golden, Hudson become 1st pitchers to throw consecutive no-hitters in Lopes' D-I era

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon softball pitchers Meghan Golden and Hailey Hudson put on a show during Tuesday night, recording back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time in GCU Division I-era history to sweep a doubleheader against CSU Bakersfield at GCU Softball Stadium.

With sophomore Emily Darwin's perfect game on Feb. 11, the Lopes have now recorded three no-hitters this month, a feat that has only been accomplished on one other occasion in the GCU record book (2016).

Hudson, a junior, and Golden, a sophomore, combined for 19 strikeouts to lead the Lopes to two 8-0 victories that put the Lopes at 16-1 this season.

Only USC Upstate (13-0) and UCLA (17-1) have better records among teams with full schedules. With seven shutouts, the Lopes rank ninth nationally for staff ERA at 1.41.

Hudson blanks Bakersfield in 5

GCU opened with Hudson's 59-pitch performance of seven ground outs, two fly outs and six strikeouts for an 8-0, run-rule victory in five innings with senior first baseman Ramsay Lopez knocking in four runs on three hits.

Hudson, Hailey Hudson brought the heat from the start, forcing three swinging strikeouts in the top of the first to set up the Lopes' dominant four-run bottom half. The McLennan (Texas) Community College transfer struck out the first five batters before surrendered a walk on a full count. She is now 7-0 this season with a 0.39 ERA.

Lopez and junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers hit two-out RBI singles while freshman center fielder Brynn-Jordan Smythe completed the two-out rally with a two-run single up the middle for the 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Lopes poured it on, with a two-run home run by Lopez, and a RBI double by senior second baseman Macee Barnes for a 7-0 advantage.

Lopez batted in junior designated player CC Wong for GCU's eighth run of the game, followed by a three-and-out defensive performance to complete Hudson's no-hitter on her sixth strikeout.

Fifield fires 2 over fence, Golden fans 13

Golden obliterated the strike zone in the Tuesday nightcap, striking out 13 batters and leaving only two outs in the game to be decided by her teammates (one fly out, one ground out).

The Peoria (Arizona) Centennial High School graduate struck out the side in the first, third and fourth innings and ended the Lopes' second 8-0, run-rule victory in five innings on her 13th strikeout.

Golden, Meghan

The Lopes built offensive momentum slowly the second game, scoring one run in the first, one in the second and two in the third before breaking out for four in a fourth-inning hitting finale.

Senior right fielder Kristin Fifield tied her season single-game-high with two home runs, giving her seven on the season. Her two-out solo shot in the first inning and two-run homer in the third inning went with a single in her final at bat.

In the bottom of the second, GCU senior catcher Annie Villalobos sent a double to right field for a Lopes RBI and 2-0 lead.

GCU got the bats going in the bottom of the fourth, with another Villalobos RBI, an RBI from senior third baseman Hannah Burnett and a RBI double by junior Kaitlyn Brannstrom.

The Lopes returrn to action this Friday, when they co-hosts the GCU-ASU Classic though Sunday.