Lopes sweep final doubleheader, secure series win

Friday, May 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

43-11, 21-3

Abilene Christian

16-30, 8-16

Abilene Christian

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Sebastian Molinar

5/3/2024 5:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU swept every Friday doubleheader, won all conference series this season

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon started its senior weekend celebration with a final Friday doubleheader sweep, defeating Abiliene Christian 2-1 and 13-8 at GCU Softball Stadium. At 44-11 (22-3 WAC), GCU is tied for the third most wins in the nation this season.

Lopes notch opening series win

GCU, which clinched the conference title last weekend, reached base each inning in the opener of the regular season's final series but ultimately stranded seven runners on base in a 2-1 win.

ACU (16-30, 8-16 WAC) took a first-inning lead with a solo home run before being stalled offensively by the Lopes. The Wildcats' batting order was retired in order in each of the next five innings.

The Lopes posted the tying run on an RBI single by senior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel in the bottom of the third, when graduate first baseman AshleyTrierweiler reached base on a bunt, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third to claim scoring position.

With the bases loaded by a walk from graduate designated player Ramsay Lopez, a fielder's choice from senior left fielder Kayla Rodgers and a single by junior center fielder Makaiya Gomez, junior pinch hitter Kaitlyn Brannstrom managed an RBI walk for the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

The Wildcats made one final push in the seventh with back-to-back singles, but the Lopes defense remained dialed in, notching a double play by junior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a and Trierweiler, and a foul out that freshman catcher Tinley Lucas caught against the backstop fence.

GCU graduate pitcher Megan Schumacher made her third start in the circle this season and earned her fourth win with four strikeouts while allowing three hits and one run in six innings. Junior pitcher Meghan Golden earned her second save of the season with a perfect seventh inning.

GCU secures final WAC series victory

The Lopes battled late into Friday night's second game, in a roller coaster of events that resulted in a 13-8 victory against Abilene Christian to clinch the series.

Both squads threw four pitchers, as senior Hailey Hudson started in the circle for the Lopes and junior winning pitcher Emily Darwin (9-2), freshman Alina Satcher, and Golden also made appearances.

GCU tallied a 4-0 lead in the fourth, beginning with a Brannstrom solo home run and followed by a Trierweiler RBI single. Freshman second baseman Savannah-Groshong Kirk reaching and advancing on errors that allowed Trierweiler to score before a Lopez RBI single.

In a turn of events, the Wildcats posted six runs in the top of the fifth to take a short-lived, 6-4 lead ahead of the Lopes also notching a six-run half inning.

With a leadoff Dunckel double, Brannstrom walk and a bunt by sophomore left fielder Brynn-Jordan Smythe, senior catcher Mikaela Payne stepped to the plate with loaded bases. Payne reached on an error by the ACU right fielder, allowing Smythe to advance to third and two Lopes run to score.

GCU loaded the bases again on freshman third baseman Mackenzie Nolan's walk and scored two runs on a Kirk double down the right-field line. With Nolan and Kirk in scoring position, graduate right fielder Kristin Fifield sent a two-RBI single through the right side for a 10-6 lead.

The Lopes also scored three runs on no hits and two errors in the sixth, with Lucas, Nolan and Kepa'a all scoring on wild pitches to for a 13-6 lead entering the seventh.

GCU celebrates its 10 seniors after Saturday's regular-season finale against Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time).