Lopes take San Diego 4-3 on Tuesday night

Tuesday, March 7

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

21-2

San Diego

6-16

San Diego

Grand Canyon

3/7/2023 10:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Barnes' go-ahead single helps improve GCU to 21-2 with its 16th home win

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon took a 4-3 win over San Diego at home Tuesday night, rallying from a 3-0 hole with 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief pitching and a clutch, go-ahead hit from senior second baseman Macee Barnes.

It was an offensive group effort by the Lopes to overthrow the Toreros, but competitive baserunning gave GCU the edge, as the Lopes recorded a season-high six stolen bases, with three by senior center fielder Hannah Burnett for an individual season high. Sophomore Emily Darwin, junior Hailey Hudson and sophomore Meghan Golden came out of the bullpen to keep San Diego scoreless while GCU scored four unanswered runs.

The Lopes gave up runs in the first inning for the first time this season, as San Diego scored two runs off a GCU fielding error. The Toreros returned to the driver's seat in the top of the second with leadoff hitter Emma Giaime's sold home run for a 3-0 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, GCU junior first baseman Kaitlyn Brannstrom hit her second home run of the season to get the Lopes on the board with the solo shot.

As Darwin entered to keep San Diego scoreless in the third and fourth innings, the Lopes continued to build their comeback momentum in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Senior right fielder Kristin Fifield doubled to right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up senior third baseman Madison Schaefer to single down the left field line and bring Fifield home to make San Diego's lead 3-2.

Holding San Diego hitless in the top of the fifth allowed GCU to tie it up in its next at bat. Burnett led off with a single up the middle and stole two bases with junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel in the batter's box. After ball four hit the San Diego catcher's glove, Fifield stepped up for a sacrifice fly and her 38th RBI of the season and the tying run.

The Lopes survived the Toreros' bases-loaded threat in the top half of the sixth with no damage. Hudson forced out a runner at home for the second out before Golden entered to get the final out and send the game to the bottom of the sixth inning at 3-3.

That gave the Lopes the opportunity to get ahead for the first time in the ball game. With two on and two outs senior, Barnes singled to third base, bringing in freshman pinch runner Emma Rodrigues for a 4-3 lead.

Golden, who earned the win to move to 4-0, sent two San Diego hitters packing with swinging strikeouts and pitched a fly out to left field to seal the Lopes' 21st win on the season.