Lopes start season 5-0 in San Antonio

Sunday, February 12

San Antonio, Texas

9 a.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

5-0

Eastern Illinois

0-5

Eastern Illinois

Grand Canyon

2/12/2023 1:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU pitchers allow only 1 run in opening weekend

By: Adrianna Candelaria

SAN ANTONIO — Grand Canyon softball ended a dominant opening weekend by defeating Eastern Illinois 9-1 on Sunday at the Cardinal Classic, where they went 5-0 for the program's best start since 2017 with a 39-1 cumulative scoring margin on the weekend.

"Our girls got to compete and have a good time," Lopes head coach Shanon Hays said. " "It was a good weekend to cut our teeth and we're always happy when we win."

An action-packed bottom of the first brought home five runs for the Lopes, as junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel hit an RBI triple to left center to follow senior right fielder Kristin Fifield's leadoff double. Fifield finished the weekend with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs on 7-for-12 hitting.

GCU senior third baseman Madison Schaefer batted in Dunckel for a 2-0 lead before she scored on junior first baseman Kaitlyn Brannstrom's doubled to right center. Junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers and senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow hit RBI sacrifice flies to put the Lopes ahead 5-0 after one inning.

After an eight-pitch walk from senior second baseman Macee Barnes started the Lopes' second inning, Dunckel cranked one over the wall for a two-run home run and a 7-0 lead for the Lopes. Brannstrom also managed to bring Schaefer home on a full-count sacrifice fly for an 8-0 lead.

Eastern Illinois answered with one run in the top of the fourth, but Brannstrom added another full-count RBI sacrifice fly for the 9-1 final. It was the only run that GCU pitchers allowed in five games with sophomore Emily Darwin picking up her second win in a relief role after throwing the Lopes program's first perfect game on Saturday. Taryn Batterton, a freshman from Latta, Oklahoma, also made her GCU debut in two relief innings.

"Heading into next week, we'll continue to get our pitching going and make some offensive adjustments," Hays said after GCU opened a season with multiple shutouts (four) for the first time in program history.

GCU now prepares to host the three-day Littlewood Classic, starting Friday at GCU Softball Stadium, for the first of its four home tournaments this season. The Lopes' home Opening Day starts with a 4 p.m. game against DePaul on Friday before a 6:30 p.m. game against Illinois State.