Lopes rally with 8 unanswered runs in San Diego

Wednesday, April 26

San Diego, Calif.

5:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

38-10

San Diego

19-24-1

Grand Canyon

San Diego

4/26/2023 10:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU downs Toreros 9-5 on road; Schaefer knocks in 3

By: Adrianna Candelaria

SAN DIEGO – Grand Canyon softball won its fourth straight game, downing San Diego 9-5 on Wednesday night.

Despite sending four pitchers to the circle, the Lopes came out on top with them combining for four strikeouts. Two came from senior Ariel Thompson and two were by sophomore Meghan Golden, who has thrown 100 strikeouts in 74 innings this season.

The Lopes (38-10) scored first in their sixth consecutive game, recording their first run on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Madison Schaefer. But after allowing a five-run bottom of the third built on three San Diego base hits to trail 5-1, GCU (38-10) scored eight unanswered runs while holding San Diego scoreless for four innings..

Although GCU did not record its first hit until the top of the fourth, the Lopes surged ahead with a five-run fifth inning. Lopes senior second baseman Macee Barnes reached on fielding error, senior center fielder Hannah Burnett singled to shortstop, and junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel singled up the middle for an RBI, to start the comeback.

The Lopes continued the inning with a walk by graduate designated player Ramsay Lopez walk,and junior first baseman Kaitlyn Brannstrom's RBI single before tying the Toreros when junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a throwing error, sending two Lopes runs home.

GCU capped the night with a two-run Lopez homer, her 15th of the season, to give them a 9-5 lead in the sixth inning. With 52 career home runs, Lopez ranks 19th nationally for career home runs among active Division I players.

The Lopes then forced a three-and-out bottom of the sixth, and limited San Diego to two hits without a run in the bottom of the seventh. They have gone 2-0 against the Toreros this season, also defeating San Diego 4-3 in early March.

GCU will continue its California road trip into Riverside, where it will compete against California Baptist in the final WAC road series of the season.