Lopes open WAC season with pair of wins

Friday, March 15

Seattle, Wash.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

21-6, 0

Seattle U

8-16, 0

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

Photo by: Adrianna Candelaria

3/15/2024 9:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU sweeps Friday doubleheader in Seattle

By: Adrianna Candelaria

SEATTLE — Grand Canyon opened the WAC season with a doublheader sweep at Seattle U on Friday.

Lopes wins 1st WAC game of season

The Lopes defeated Seattle U 6-3, scoring six runs on nine hits in their WAC season opener at Logan Field.

With two on and two outs in the top of the first, GCU took an early two-run lead when senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers singled through the right side to score senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel and graduate first baseman Ashley Trierweiler.

Seattle answered with a run in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 ballgame, but GCU freshman catcher Tinley Lucas homered to right field to increase the Lopes lead to 3-1.

By the end of the sixth inning, the Redhawks managed to catch the Lopes at 3-3, but GCU put a pin in their momentum with three runs in the top of the seventh. Fifield and Lopez each posted RBIs while freshman second baseman Savannah Groshong-Kirk reached on error for Rodgers to score the final run.

Senior pitcher Ariel Thompson improved to 6-0 on the season. Pitchers Meghan Golden and Megan Schumacher also made two-inning appearances in the circle to combine for 10 strikeouts, five hits and two walks.

GCU clinch series against Seattle U

The Lopes swept the doubleheader with a 7-5 nightcap victory at Seattle U to move to 22-6.

Although Seattle U scored first in the second game, GCU notched three runs in the top of the second to take the lead. Kirk singled to right field to set up senior catcher Mikaela Payne doubling to right center for an RBI. Junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a reached on an error, and Dunckel hit another double for a 3-1 Lopes lead.

GCU went on another scoring run in the fourth, tallying four runs on five hits, including a two-run home run by Fifield to make it 7-1.

Lopes senior pitcher Hailey Hudson improved to 5-4 on the season with three strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

GCU concludes the series at noon (Phoenix time) on Saturday with one final game at Logan Field in the WAC-opening series.