Sunday brings Lopes' 1st loss

Sunday, February 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

11:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

4-1

Boise State

4-1

Boise State

Grand Canyon

2/11/2024 12:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU turns 2 double plays but falls short to Boise State

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Despite turning a pair of double plays and holding an early lead, Grand Canyon ended a 4-1 opening weekend with its first blemish in a 3-1 Sunday home loss to Boise State.

GCU began the 2024 season with four victories Friday and Saturday, defeating Wisconsin, Maine, Weber State and St. Thomas. The Lopes held a 33-11 scoring margin and was adding to it Sunday with a 1-0 lead through four innings.

After little action in the first frame, the Lopes made quick work of the second inning, as junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a and freshman second baseman Savannah Kirk worked together to tag the lead runner. On a one-out, one-on fielder's choice, senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel scooped up a grounder, stepped on second and fired to graduate first baseman Kristin Fifield for a double play to end the half inning.

Junior right fielder Makaiya Gomez singled in the bottom half, but was left on base. An inning later, GCU found its footing in the third when sophomore designated player Brynn-Jordan Smythe hit a single, stole second base and sprinted home on a bunt by graduate center fielder Ashley Trierweiler.

Despite holding the Broncos scoreless for most of the game, an unorthodox fifth inning brought three troublesome Boise State runs that GCU could not overcome.

Boise State did not send a ball out of the infield in the fifth but plated three runs. A leadoff walk prompted a pitching change from graduate Ariel Thompson to senior Hailey Hudson. The next three Broncos reached on fielder's choices with the Lopes unable to record an out. On the second fielder's choice, an errant throw to third base plated the Broncos' tying run. On the third consecutive fielder's choice, GCU attempted to get an out at home plate but freshman catcher Tinley Lucas slipped on the hitter's bat, allowing two runs when the second crossed home as the Lopes returned the ball to the circle.

The Broncos threatened even further in the fifth inning, loading the bases with no outs. But Hudson did excellent damage control with a strikeout and by coaxing a double play.

GCU couldn't mount a rally as successfully as Saturday night. Gomez hit a one-out double in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but GCU couldn't pull closer..

Thompson (four innings), Hudson (two innings) and graduate pitcher Megan Schumacher (one inning) combined for five strikeouts.

GCU will host Memphis on Friday at 4 p.m. at GCU Softball Stadium to open its participation in the Littlewood Classic. Co-hosted with Arizona State, the tournament will also bring California, Virginia Tech, Illinois State and Cal State Fullerton to GCU to face the Lopes.