Saturday sweep makes Lopes 4-0

Saturday, February 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-0

Weber State

1-3

Weber State

Grand Canyon

2/10/2024 7:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Kepa'a rocks pair of 2-run homers to edge Weber State, blow out St. Thomas

By: Adrianna Candelaria

The Grand Canyon softball team (4-0) may have looked brand new, dawning its gray Lopes uniforms, but the winning ways remained Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes totaled 18 runs on 20 hits in wins against Weber State and St. Thomas, led by junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a and graduate Kristin Fifield with four RBIs apeice.

GCU has final say vs. Weber State

The Lopes posted a 6-5 victory over Weber State in their opening Saturday gameat GCU Softball Stadium.

With junior right fielder Makaiya Gomez already on the bag with a base hit, junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a hit her first home run of the season for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

But Weber State was quick to cut GCU's lead in the third with back-to-back runs to tie, and ultimately two additional runs to take a 4-2 lead that did not shift until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kepa'a, who was pinch run for by graduate pitcher Ariel Thompson, and graduate center fielder Ashley Trierweiler set the scene with a respective walk and single. Senior shortrstop Katelyn Dunkel followed with a double to left center for two RBI and the tie at 4-4.

With two outs, Fifield singled up the middle, advanced into scoring position on the throw and brought Dunckel home for the go-ahead run. Senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers then sent Fifield across the plate with a single to left center before a pitching change prompted the end of the inning.

GCU gave up one final run in the seventh to trim the lead to 6-5 before putting senior pitcher Hailey Hudson in the circle for the final strikeout and her first save.

Junior preseason WAC Co-Pitcher of the Year Meghan Golden (2 2/3 innings) started for the Lopes, with appearances in the circle by freshman Alina Satcher (1/3 inning), graduate Megan Schumacher (3 2/3 for her first GCU win) and Hudson (1/3).

Lopes run rule Tommies

GCU struck first and fast as leadoff hitter and freshman second baseman Savannah Kirk walked, advanced to second on a Trierweiler bunt and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Dunckel. The Lopes loaded the bases on a Fifield walk and put two runs on the board with a double by Rodgers; Fifield made it home as well, on a sacrifice fly to left field by Gomez for a 3-0 lead.

The Lopes tacked on three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second, as sophomore Brynn-Jordan Smythe singled to the pitcher, Trierweiler was hit by pitch, Dunckel hit Smythe home, and Fifield cleared the bases with a single to center field to put GCU ahead 6-0.

In the third, Kepa'a jacked her second home run of the evening over the center field wall to bring freshman catcher Tinley Lucas home and give the Lopes eight runs. With subsequent singles by Kirk and Smythe and a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Trierweiler to advance the runners, Fifield drove another single to left field and allowed Smythe and Kirk to cross the plate for a 10-3 lead. The Lopes momentum continued with consecutive singles by Rodgers and Gomez to tally 12 runs.

The final two outs of GCU's domination belonged to Gomez in right field, where she hauled in one catch that sent her sprinting toward the outfield wall, and another diving into foul territory.

Junior Emily Darwin (2 2/3 innings) made her season debut in the circle, and was accompanied by Hudson (1 1/3) and Satcher (1).

GCU will close the Kajikawa Classic with a home game against Boise State (3-1) at 11:30 a.m. (Phoenix time) on Sunday at GCU Softball Stadium.