Shutout gives GCU 2nd consecutive win vs. ASU

Tuesday, February 18

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

10-2

Arizona State

7-4

Arizona State

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

2/18/2025 9:30:00 PM | Softball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

Gomez, McCray deliver hits to back Lopes pitching from Batterton, Place

By: Paul Coro

In a state where two softball programs have deep histories of national prominence, Grand Canyon's emergence as Arizona's third major player on the national scene has been undeniable.

Defeating Arizona State for the second consecutive season further removes any separation except the campuses' 17-mile gap. The Lopes became the first team to shut out the Sun Devils this season with a 3-0 victory Tuesday night in front of 1,023 fans at GCU Softball Stadium.

Backed by a flawless defense, GCU sophomore pitcher Maggie Place's 4 2/3 innings followed junior Taryn Batterton's 2 1/3-inning start to quiet a 7-3 ASU team had hit 14 home runs and averaged 5.7 runs per game.

The Lopes (10-2) showed the pop instead, getting a towering, straightaway home run from graduate right fielder Makaiya Gomez in the fourth inning and adding junior center fielder Sydney McCray's two-run, two-out double in the fifth.

"Those two arms for Arizona State are good arms, really good arms," GCU head coach Shanon Hays said of facing ASU aces Meika Lauppe and Kenzie Brown, who entered with a combined 1.19 ERA. "We came through. It's not like we knocked them around, but we were opportunistic. When you get on the board first like MK (Gomez) did for us taking a great swing, that gives you some momentum, and we rode it after that."

Batteron took one trip through the ASU lineup before Place relieved her in the third inning with one on and one out.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 18, 2025 : The Lopes shut out ASU 3-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 18, 2025 : The Lopes shut out ASU 3-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Place stranded a bases-loaded, two-out situation with a pop-up from Sun Devils leading hitter Kelsey Hall. The Oklahoma Baptist transfer's mesmerizing side spin did not allow ASU to push another runner past first base, making the right-hander 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA this month and giving GCU a 3-2 lead in the all-time series with ASU.

"Put those two together, and they'll be so solid because they're so different from each other," Hays said after Place continued her successful transition from Division II with a 4-1 record and a 1.32 ERA this month.

In center field, McCray also helped keep ASU scoreless by playing a second-inning leadoff hit off the wall and unleashing a cannon to easily throw Sun Devils right fielder Ashleigh Mejia out at second base. The defense wiped out another ASU hit with a 2-6-3-4-2 rundown on Sun Devils left fielder Nehanda Lewis in the fourth and received more brilliant defense from senior third baseman Lovey Kepa'a and sophomore second baseman Savannah Kirk.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 18, 2025 : The Lopes shut out ASU 3-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU was shut out until the fourth inning, when Gomez surpassed her 2024 season home run total of three by ripping her fourth home run in 12 games this season. Tuesday night's blast cleared the 220-foot center field wall about halfway up the net for a 1-0 Lopes lead.

"It's energetic," Gomez said of the GCU Softball Stadium atmosphere. "We're out here in front of our home fans. We have so much support, so it's awesome to achieve something big in front of a big crowd."

An inning later, sophomore catcher Tinley Lucas gave GCU its first leadoff hit of the game with a liner off Brown's leg. Freshman Willa Ford and sophomore Mackenzie Nolan drew walks to load the bases for the Lopes, setting up McCray's two-out, two-run single to the opposite field for a 3-0 GCU edge.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 18, 2025 : The Lopes shut out ASU 3-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

McCray improved her batting average to .375 but had not had a RBI this season until Tuesday night's crucial one. She also hit a two-run double against Montana but had it taken away when she was ruled out of the batter's box.

"To produce in a crucial moment and give some insurance for our pitchers after working so hard was good and comforting, especially in that game," McCray said. "I was mostly just thinking keep it short and put it in play, just to cause chaos for them. If it's there, then smack it, just quick and simple.

"I understand from older girls like MK (Gomez) their spice that they have to it (playing ASU). Being able to back them up and their competitive edge that they have, I'm glad that I can contribute and be a name that is talked about in wins like that."

Place ended the win with four allowed hits, all infield singles, and her first strikeout coming in the final inning.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 18, 2025 : The Lopes shut out ASU 3-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The Lopes and Sun Devils will play again on April 15 at ASU.

Games like Tuesday's crosstown battle display the higher level of talent that GCU is attracting and identifying after three consecutive NCAA regional appearances, whether it be Place from Division II or McCray with the MLB pedigree from her father, Rodney, and brother, Grant, now with the San Francisco Giants.

"I love it a lot," said McCray, a junior college transfer from Florida Southwestern State. "It's the community and the love that all the girls have here for each other. The competitiveness is just so raw. That's what helps us get so much better. It's so fun to go compete against other people because we compete rough against each other in our intrasquad scrimmages. To finally be able to push that competitive energy toward other people and see what we all can do is really fun."

After playing on last season's NCAA regional final team, Gomez has taken leadership of the Lopes this season in words and actions. She is hitting .361 with a team-best 11 RBI.

"She takes it seriously," Hays said. "She wants to be a leader. She wants to be a bigtime player in the middle of the lineup. And she's a super defender. It's great having kids like MK that are just all-around good players and good people."

The Lopes can make more national noise this weekend at GCU Softball Stadium, where they play Portland State and Iowa State in a 4 p.m. Friday doubleheader and No. 2 Florida at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.