GCU walks off Game 2 to split doubleheader

Friday, March 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Tarleton State

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

3/21/2025 11:00:00 PM | Softball

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Ford's 2-homer day highlights Lopes' offense

By: Braden Dohrmann

Grand Canyon (23-5, 3-1 WAC) walked off Tarleton State (17-14, 3-5 WAC) in Game 2 of a Friday doubleheader to earn a split at GCU Softball Stadium.

GCU struggled at the plate throughout the day, receiving big hits from unlikely sources in freshman Willa Ford and junior Arriana Wright.

Game 1: GCU loses to Tarleton State 3-0

GCU was shut out for just the second time this season in Game 1 of the doubleheader with the Texans.

Tarleton State pitcher Hannah Blincoe continued her solid season in the circle by earning her third complete game with a two-hitter.

GCU sophomore shortstop Mackenzie Nolan had the only hit through the first six innings.

The Texans struck in the top of the fourth inning, when cleanup batter Kalyn Hill sent a deep drive to left field, scoring two. Sophomore Maggie Place started for GCU and gave up the home run. She went 4 2/3 innings coming just a strike away from a five-inning start. Head coach Shanon Hays brought in Taryn Batterton with a 3-2 count in a one-on, two-out situation, and the junior snagged a strikeout.

Batterton finished the game in the circle, giving up an insurance run in the sixth when Tarleton pieced together three singles for a 3-0 lead.

Atop the lineup for GCU, sophomore second baseman Savannah Kirk's 16-game hit streak came to an end. The streak was the longest for any Lopes player since Katelyn Dunckel also hit in 16 straight games in 2023.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, GCU seemed to have something building for a late-inning comeback. Lopes junior outfielder Sydney McCray singled to center to start the inning and was followed by an eight-pitch walk by junior first baseman Emily Gonzalez walk. Freshman designated player Jada Cooper went down looking on an inside full-count pitch that was too close to pass up. The unlucky evening continued when senior outfielder Makaiya Gomez ripped the first pitch she saw straight to first base for a lineout. Sophomore pinch-hitter Alina Satcher went down swinging to end the game.

Game 2: GCU beats Tarleton State 4-3

Two home runs by freshman Willa Ford and a walk-off, pinch-hit single from sophomore Arriana Wright got the Lopes back on the winning train Friday night.

Senior starter Meghan Golden went four scoreless innings to start the contest for GCU. She allowed a game-tying home run to in the top half of the fifth inning and was pulled later in the frame.

Batterton was again asked to finish the game for the Lopes.

Ford, a utility player, made just her fifth start, this time in right field and the eight hole of the Lopes lineup. Ford and senior Alexis Soto made their first starts of the season.

Ford proved Hays' decision right when she sent her first two at bats out of the park. Both home runs were solo shots, coming in the third and fifth innings for a 2-1 lead. Ford raised her batting average almost 80 points to .353.

In the seventh inning, the Lopes were one out away from escaping Game two with a 2-1 win when the Texans had other plans. They staged a comeback that produced the tying and go-ahead run in the top half of the inning.

With two outs, Tarleton's Tristyn Trull hit a swinging bunt that back spun away from Batterton just enough for Trull to outrun the throw to first base. Kalyn Hill, who hit the go-ahead homer in Game 1, then ripped a single to left field to score pinch-runner Mikaila Gilliand from second base.

Next, Nolan did not handle a grounder, partially due to good baserunning from Cochran to distract Nolan by running in front of her as the ball came. This gave the Texans a 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

GCU continued to fight with Ford walking to start the inning and Kirk adding a base hit two batters later. McCray laid down a perfect bunt for a hit down the third-base line, using her speed to beat out the throw.

Wright then stepped up to the plate with the bases juiced and one out. Wright pinch-hit because Gonazlez, the mainstay in the three-hole, had already reached base twice and been pinch-ran for twice.

Wright did not waste the opportunity. After going down 0-2 in the count, the Texas native worked it to 2-2 before lining a single into left field and setting up the speedy Kirk to score from second.

The Lopes had not lost consecutive games since 2023 but look to continue their streak of WAC series wins that also dates back to 2023.

GCU and Tarleton State will duke it out for the series Saturday at noon (Phoenix time) at GCU Softball Stadium.