Lopes win by walk-off twice Saturday

Saturday, February 7

Phoenix, Ariz.

1:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-0

Southern Utah

0-5

Southern Utah

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Nate Cochran

2/7/2026 9:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Pitching performances from Place and Vickers sustain Lopes perfect record

By: Braden Dohrmann

Grand Canyon moved to 4-0 with a Saturday sweep of Southern Utah and Santa Clara, winning each with a seventh inning walk-off.

A late scare in the early afternoon against Southern Utah saw a fielding error that scored freshman Raegan Holtorf, her third run of the game. The Lopes nightcap vs. Santa Clara, also saw GCU's lead evaporate late in the game before an Emily Gonzalez double led to a wild pitch scoring another freshman in Addison Shifflett for the game winner.

Grand Canyon 4 – Southern Utah 3

Just the night before, GCU throttled the Thunderbirds 17-2, marking the Lopes first 17-run game in four years. Saturday's contest was a different story, with a pitching duel stealing the stage.

Grand Canyon's Maggie Place was stellar in her debut start for 2026. Place went 6.1 IP allowing just one earned run despite three runs coming across when she was in the circle. Place struck out seven and only allowed four hits. Place was snubbed for the win, as Natalie Fritz who entered late in the seventh inning earned her second win on the young season.

Offensively, the Lopes were mostly stifled by SUU's Hannah Duncan who went 6.2 innings pitched only allowing four hits, four walks and eventually the four runs that would be enough for GCU.

Freshman second baseman Raegan Holtorf had three of the four hits GCU managed in the game, also scoring three of the four runs for the Lopes. In the third inning, Holtorf ripped a triple down the right-field line, scoring on a McCray RBI groundout.

In the fifth inning, Holtorf singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored two ground balls later.

In the top of the seventh, the Thunderbirds flipped the game on its head scoring two to take a 3-2 lead. After a leadoff infield single, a chopper to third was cleanly fielded by third baseman Haley Wilkinson before her throw was off mark to second base in attempts for a double play. Holtorf could not handle the throw, leaving runners on first and second with no outs.

After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over and a hit by pitch loaded the bases up, SUU's Alayah Toscano's single to left center scored two. Fritz eventually helped the Lopes escape further damage, just trailing by a run.

In the bottom half of the inning, freshman catcher Sarah Campbell who made her first collegiate start, ripped a single up the middle to start the inning. Chaos then ensued as Holtorf earned her third hit on a bunt single, and McCray's sacrifice bunt was also coughed up by the pitcher for an error.

Haley Wilkinson came to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded, tying the game up with a sac-fly to right field.

Trinity Martin finally popped out to shallow right field and when Holtorf baited a throw home, the Thunderbirds catcher dropped the ball allowing for the freshman to slide in just in time for the win.

Grand Canyon 5 – Santa Clara 4

Game two on the slate for GCU was a cleaner one but had similar traits to the first. A dominant outing in the circle, this time by sophomore lefty Oakley Vickers. Vickers tossed 6.1 innings, just allowing three runs (two earned) and seven strikeouts.

A late lead evaporated as well, with Santa Clara scoring three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game up at 4-4, leading the Lopes to score once again in the bottom-half of the seventh inning for the walk-off win.

Graduate transfer Trinity Martin who was expected to provide power numbers to the lineup this season, did just that with a two-run opposite field home run to take a 2-1 lead in the second inning.

In the fourth inning, senior Sydney McCray laced a line drive to center field scoring two runners from the bases loaded scenario. The bases were loaded thanks to a Martin hit by pitch and walks by Tinley Lucas and Holtorf. The RBI's made the game 4-1 in the fourth.

In the seventh, the Lopes found a way once again thanks to power hitters in the middle of the lineup. First, a single from Alina Satcher, who has started the season scorching hot. Next, a double from Emily Gonzalez, who badly needed and deserved a hit after a tougher start to the year that included multiple line drive outs.

With runners on second and third and one out, freshman Addison Shifflett pinch ran for Satcher at third base. A pitch later, Santa Clara's Ellison Schroeder sailed the pitch over the catcher's head for a wild pitch and game-winning run from Shifflett.

Not a pretty day from the Lopes by any means, but a pair of gritty wins nonetheless that brings Grand Canyon to 4-0 on opening weekend.

GCU will rematch Santa Clara, Sunday morning at 10 a.m. to close out the weekend at GCU Softball Stadium.