Upcoming Event: Softball versus Pima CC on September 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, March 30
St. George, Utah
10 a.m.
Grand Canyon
30-8, 9-2
10
at
2
Utah Tech
11-21, 4-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
3
1
3
0
2
1
10
11
0
Utah Tech
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
5
2
Lopes sweep 2nd consecutive WAC series
3/30/2024 1:14:00 PM | Softball
GCU tallies 6 home runs on weekend at Utah Tech
ST. GEORGE, Utah — Grand Canyon maintained its first-place WAC standing Saturday when it notched its second conference series sweep with a 10-2, six-inning victory at Utah Tech. GCU also took the first game of Friday's doubleheader in six innings, and averaged 10 runs per game in winning three games against the Trailblazers.
The Lopes (30-8, 9-2 WAC) hit six home runs in the series, including two solo shots by junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a, a solo home run and grand slam by senior designated player Ramsay Lopez, a grand slam from junior pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Brannstrom and a solo homer by graduate first baseman Ashley Trierweiler.
GCU only allowed Utah Tech to score in one inning Saturday and in Friday's first game, improving to 10-1 on the season when holding opponents to one inning of scoring.
Lopes junior pitcher Emily Darwin (5-1) only permitted five hits and struck out four of the 21 Trailblazers she faced through five innings.
GCU's dominant momentum from Friday carried into Saturday, as the first five Lopes batters reached base in the top of the first. With the bases loaded, Lopez sent a sacrifice fly to right field, junior center fielder Makaiya Gomez singled up the middle for an RBI, and freshman second baseman Savannah Groshong-Kirk hit an RBI single to right field for a 3-0 lead.
Kepa'a added a solo home run to left field in the top of the second before Utah Tech was able to strike with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning.
But, that little jolt from the Trailblazers offense only made GCU's bats boom more, with the Lopes tallying six additional runs through the four remaining frames.
The Lopes loaded the bases once again in the top of the third, allowing a Kirk single to drive in Gomez, who reached on a single to center field. With speedy sophomore pinch-runner Leinani Lutu in the game, freshman catcher Tinley Lucas added GCU's seventh run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
With Kirk and senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers on base with a pair of singles, sophomore pinch-hitter Brynn-Jordan Smythe's sacrifice bunt moved both Lopes into scoring position to set up senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel's two-run single to right field.
Lopesz ripped her ninth home run of the season with a sixth-inning solo blast that put GCU ahead 10-2, leaving graduate relief pitcher Megan Schumacher to record the final three outs of the game with a strikeout, ground out and fly out.
The Lopes return home to host fourth-place UT Arlington (14-20, 5-3 WAC) in a three-game conference series starting Friday at GCU Softball Stadium.
The Lopes (30-8, 9-2 WAC) hit six home runs in the series, including two solo shots by junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a, a solo home run and grand slam by senior designated player Ramsay Lopez, a grand slam from junior pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Brannstrom and a solo homer by graduate first baseman Ashley Trierweiler.
GCU only allowed Utah Tech to score in one inning Saturday and in Friday's first game, improving to 10-1 on the season when holding opponents to one inning of scoring.
Lopes junior pitcher Emily Darwin (5-1) only permitted five hits and struck out four of the 21 Trailblazers she faced through five innings.
GCU's dominant momentum from Friday carried into Saturday, as the first five Lopes batters reached base in the top of the first. With the bases loaded, Lopez sent a sacrifice fly to right field, junior center fielder Makaiya Gomez singled up the middle for an RBI, and freshman second baseman Savannah Groshong-Kirk hit an RBI single to right field for a 3-0 lead.
Kepa'a added a solo home run to left field in the top of the second before Utah Tech was able to strike with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning.
But, that little jolt from the Trailblazers offense only made GCU's bats boom more, with the Lopes tallying six additional runs through the four remaining frames.
The Lopes loaded the bases once again in the top of the third, allowing a Kirk single to drive in Gomez, who reached on a single to center field. With speedy sophomore pinch-runner Leinani Lutu in the game, freshman catcher Tinley Lucas added GCU's seventh run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
With Kirk and senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers on base with a pair of singles, sophomore pinch-hitter Brynn-Jordan Smythe's sacrifice bunt moved both Lopes into scoring position to set up senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel's two-run single to right field.
Lopesz ripped her ninth home run of the season with a sixth-inning solo blast that put GCU ahead 10-2, leaving graduate relief pitcher Megan Schumacher to record the final three outs of the game with a strikeout, ground out and fly out.
The Lopes return home to host fourth-place UT Arlington (14-20, 5-3 WAC) in a three-game conference series starting Friday at GCU Softball Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Darwin, Emily (5-1)
L: Attlyn Johnston (3-9)
Batting:
HR: Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Kepa’a, Lovey 1
RBI: Dunckel, Katelyn 2 ; Lopez, Ramsay 2 ; Gomez, Makaiya 1 ; Kirk, Savannah 3 ; Lucas, Tinley 1 ; Kepa’a, Lovey 1
SH: Smythe, Brynn-Jordan 1
SF: Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Lucas, Tinley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wolsky, Haley 1 ; Trierweiler, Ashley 1 ; Fifield, Kristin 1 ; Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Lutu, Leinani 1 ; Gomez, Makaiya 1 ; Rodgers, Kayla 2 ; Kirk, Savannah 1 ; Kepa’a, Lovey 1
Batting:
HR: Rachel Campbell 1
RBI: Rachel Campbell 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Marissa Rubio 1 ; Rachel Campbell 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
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P
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IF
/ SoftballUTIL
/ Softball
IF
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C
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C
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OF
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P
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OF
/ SoftballOF
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