GCU sweeps Tarleton State with 24-9 scoring margin

Friday, April 12

Stephenville, Texas

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

34-9, 0

Tarleton State

16-26, 0

Grand Canyon

Tarleton State

Photo by: Adrianna Candelaria

4/12/2024 8:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopes clinch 6th WAC series, remain atop conference standings

By: Adrianna Candelaria

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Grand Canyon swept its sixth consecutive WAC doubleheader this season and clinched its sixth consecutive WAC series with back-to-back victories at Tarleton State on Friday night.

Big 4th inning buries Tarleton

GCU won the first game of Friday's doubleheader 9-7 despite Tarleton State outhitting the Lopes 10-0. GCU has taken the first game of each WAC series this season thus far.

Lopes senior pitcher Hailey Hudson, who improved to 10-4 on the season, threw three shutout innings to start the day and finished with four shutout innings in her 5 1/3-inning appearance. Hudson only allowed one run on two walks and six hits with three strikeouts.

The Lopes (34-9, 13-2 WAC) perked up offensively in the fourth, scoring six runs on five hits. Graduate first baseman Ashley Trierweiler led off with a walk to set up graduate designated player Ramsay Lopez for her 10th home run of the season, putting GCU on the board first. Lopes tied graduate right fielder Kristin Fifield for the team home run lead his season.

Holding a 2-0 count at the plate, senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers doubled down the left-field line, forcing the Texans (16-26, 4-11 WAC) to change pitchers ahead of a RBI double from junior center fielder Makayia Gomez.

With the bases loaded, junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a doubled to left center for two additional runs, as senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel plated the sixth run on a ground ball to second base.

Kepa'a notched a solo double play to end the fifth inning as well, tagging two Texans runners in pickle situations.

GCU scored its final three runs on a Kepa'a ground ball to second base in the sixth and a two-run RBI double by Rodgers in the seventh.

Pitchers Emily Darwin (junior) and Megan Schumacher (graduate) made brief appearances in the circle as well, allowing four Tarleton runs across the sixth and seventh innings.

Lopes trample Texans in 15-2 blowout

GCU tallied 15 runs on 10 hits, scoring in every inning while holding Tarleton to two runs on four hits to close th Friday doubleheader with a 15-2, run-rule win in five innings.

Darwin improved to 7-1 on the season after a 2 1/3-inning performance in wihch she allowed one hit and one walk while recording four strikeouts. Junior pitcher Meghan Golden got the start, throwing 1 2/3 innings, while freshman Alina Satcher closed for the Lopes. Meanwhile, GCU saw six Tarleton State pitchers in five innings.

The Lopes scored four runs in each of the first and third frames, three runs in each of the second and fifth innings and a solo run in the fourth. Lopez and Gomez each posted three RBIs, while Rodgers, freshman pinch-hitter Mackenzie Nolan and senior catcher Mikaela Payne each recorded two RBIs. Nolan recorded her first career triple to put GCU up 14-2 in the top of the fifth.

Ahead by 12 in the fifth frame, Lopes head coach Shanon Hays brought in sophomore utility player Leinani Lutu and Satcher for their first career at bats. Lutu walked to load the bases before Satcher reached on a fielder's choice to close the half-inning.

Satcher then picked up a strikeout and allowed two Texans on board, before Kepa'a started a double play for the second time Friday, catching a line drive to third base and connecting with Darwin at first base.

The Lopes conclude the series with one final game at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) on Saturday.