Lopes clinch series with two shutouts of CBU

Friday, March 28

Riverside, Calif.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

25-6, 4-2

California Baptist

15-18, 3-4

Lopes

California Baptist

Photo by: Braden Dohrmann

3/28/2025 11:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Batterton one-hitter dazzles in game one

By: Braden Dohrmann

Grand Canyon (26-6, 5-2 WAC) dominated California Baptist (15-19, 3-5 WAC) in both ends of Friday night's doubleheader in Riverside.

GCU received two outstanding pitching performances on the night, with junior pitcher Taryn Batterton pitching the Lopes first seven-inning complete game in game one and Golden shutting out the Lancers in game two's run-rule victory.

Game 1: GCU beats California Baptist 4-0

GCU was one out away from a Taryn Batterton no-hitter, when CBU's Ashlee Annett reached on an infield single that would have been a terrific, diving play by second-baseman Savannah Kirk.

Batterton only allowed two base runners in the contest, a walk in the first inning and the hit in the seventh. She struck out seven batters, tying her season-high from the Lopes win over Penn on March 7. Taryn moved to 10-1 on the year with a 1.94 ERA. Her complete game marked the first of the season and last one since Meghan Golden's vs. Virginia Tech in last year's NCAA Regional.

GCU cashed in for two runs in both the third and fourth innings. In the 3rd inning, the Lopes went on a two-out rally. Singles from Willa Ford and Kirk, brought up the pinch-hitter Alina Satcher. Satcher worked a walk loading the bases for graduate outfielder Makaiya Gomez.

Gomez ripped a line drive into center field scoring two runners easily with the speedster Kirk on second base. Gomez drove in RBI's 25 and 26. She added a third RBI on the day in game two of the doubleheader.

In the 4th inning, freshman Jada Cooper and graduate outfielder Mia Weckel led the inning off with singles. Each player had two hits in the game alongside Kirk. After a Tinley Lucas sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, three straight walks from Mackenzie Nolan, Ford, and Kirk brought in runs 3 and 4 for the Lopes.

Ford hit in the nine-hole and played third base, filling in nicely for the injured Lovey Kepa'a.

Game 2 – GCU beats California Baptist 10-0 (5 Inn.)

The GCU bats paired with another dominant pitching performance, left no doubt GCU would be grabbing a Friday sweep.

Senior starter Meghan Golden pitched all five innings, just allowing four hits and striking out three. Golden brought her undefeated record up to 8-0, lowering her top-5 in the nation ERA to 0.87.

The Lopes offense struck early and often in game two, scoring six in the first to set the tone. The inning was highlighted by a Tinley Lucas three-run home run to left field. The sophomore's fifth big-fly of the year just escaped the outstretched glove of CBU's left fielder Stevie Robison.

The inning began with a Kirk walk and stolen base. Savannah would end up reaching base in the second and third innings as well via base hits. She followed those up with stolen bases, accordingly. The preseason WAC Player of the Year had three hits and three stolen bases in the game, reaching base in all four of her at bats.

Kirk raised her average from a mere .490 to .509 over the two games. She extended her stolen base streak to start the season to 28 stolen bases without being caught. She has the most stolen bases in the nation without being caught, cementing herself as one of the very best base stealers in the country.

A pinch-hit Alina Satcher double scored two runners to make the score 3-0 in the first, before Lucas doubled the lead in the top-half of the inning.

The second inning began of course with a Kirk hit and steal and Weckel walk. Kirk scored on an Emily Gonzalez single, while Weckel scored on a Cooper sacrifice fly to center.

Weckel who has recently heated up at the plate, hit second in the lineup in game two. Her average is up to .380, although even more impressive, her on-base percentage is up to .467. Mia scored two more in the 3rd inning when she doubled to left-center field, extending the lead to 10-0 GCU.

Junior Emily Gonzalez reached base another three times in game two, with the mainstay at clean-up hitter walking twice and singling. Her on-base percentage sits at .491, leading the team in walks with 20. The next closest on the team has 12.

Golden finished the game off in the late innings, only allowing CBU to see two pitchers total through the first two games of the series.

GCU and California Baptist play game three of the series at 1:00 PM, Saturday afternoon at John C. Funk Stadium. The Lopes go for their first three-game sweep of the season and look to stay undefeated on the road.