Friday night sweep wins 2nd straight series

Friday, March 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

24-7, 3-1

Utah Valley

9-15, 3-1

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd

3/22/2024 11:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU downs Utah Valley in WAC double-header

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon sweeps second consecutive conference double-header and third consecutive game to become 25-7 on the season and No. 1 in the WAC with a 4-1 record and two series victories.

GCU finishes strong in 9-2 win over UVU

The Wolverines may have scored first, but the Lopes definitely had the final say, scoring nine unanswered runs for a 9-2 final score.

Utah Valley struck first, scoring two runs on three singles, but GCU answered with two runs of its own on an RBI single by graduate first baseman Ashley Trierweiler and a sacrifice fly by graduate designated player Ramsay Lopez.

GCU notched three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, on an RBI-double to right center by senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers, and a two-run homer from junior center fielder Makaiya Gomez. Rodgers has tallied seven doubles and 18 RBIs on the season, while Gomez has two home runs and 12 RBIs.

The Lopes finished their scoring run in the fifth inning, with four runs. With one out, Trierweiler placed a bunt-single, stole second, and came home on a throwing error by the Wolverines catcher on her attempt to steal third base. Lopez then hit a solo-home run to center field, followed by a bases-loaded single down the left field line from freshman catcher Tinley Lucas for two RBI.

Despite having insurance runs to fall back on, GCU maintained its pressure on UVU, forcing the Wolverines down in order in the top of the six and seventh innings. Senior pitcher Hailey Hudson notched three of her eight strikeouts in the final inning, only allowing three hits in the night, and improving to 5-4 on the season.

Lopes get Friday night sweep

Starting in a 2-0 deficit once again, GCU displayed grit in its second comeback victory of the night.

Utah Valley respectively posted one run in the first and second innings, scoring on a single, and then on a play involving batter's interference that left the entire population of GCU Softball Stadium scratching their heads. With two outs, and two runners in scoring position, UVU center fielder Angelique Mann ran to second base on a 1-0 pitch that reached the backstop, advancing a runner across the plate and ultimately pausing the game to be sorted out by officials.

After junior pitcher Meghan Golden (6-2) struck out three Wolverines in the top of the third, Trierweiler, with three RBIs, scored the Lopes first run in the third inning on a single up the middle to send Dunckel home. Trierweiler's base hit could have been the tying run for GCU, but prior the play, freshman right fielder Brynn-Jordan Smythe, after reaching base on a walk, was called out for leaving early on a Dunckel triple, erasing the outcome, and causing Dunckel to hit refresh on the at-bat, in which she settled for a double.

The Lopes continued to build in the bottom of the fourth, with consecutive singles by Gomez and freshman second baseman Savannah Groshong-Kirk, and a Smythe walk to load the bases. With Dunckel reaching on a fielder's choice, Smythe advanced the second, Kirk was tagged out on the play, and Gomez scored to tie the game. Hitting another single up the middle, Trierweiler put the Lopes ahead 3-2.

GCU scored four additional runs in the fifth for a 7-2 lead, when Kirk singled through the right side for an RBI and a bonus run by Lopez who scored on a UVU throwing error, and one last single by Trierweiler that saw both Kirk and Gomez come across, after senior catcher Mikaela Payne distracted Utah Valley with a pickle situation between second and third base.

The Wolverines made a final offensive attempt, with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth before three sequential outs in the seventh.

GCU concludes the series with one final game against Utah Valley on Saturday at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time).