Lopes' 7th home sweep pushes record to 20-1

Saturday, March 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

19-1

New Mexico

8-13

New Mexico

Grand Canyon

3/4/2023 10:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Lopez, Burnett each collect 4 hits as GCU downs New Mexico, Charlotte

By: Adrianna Candelaria

The Grand Canyon softball team posted its seventh home sweep of the season with wins over New Mexico and Charlotte on Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium.

Lopes take down Lobos 6-1

GCU posted 10 hits in Saturday's 6-1 win against New Mexico on Saturday. Senior third baseman Madison Schaefer and senior first baseman Ramsay Lopez led the Lopes with two RBIs and two hits apiece. Junior pitcher Hailey Hudson improved to 8-0 and senior ace Ariel Thompson earned her first save of the season, combining for an eight-hitter with four strikeouts.

The Lopes scored three runs in the bottom of the first, as Lopez brought two runs in with a single to left center. A Lobos throwing error brought her across the plate after moving to third on Schaefer's single to second base.

Both pitchers held strong through the bottom of the fourth, but New Mexico grabbed its first run in the top of the fifth, recording three hits and leaving two on base.

After another standstill through the top of the sixth, Schaefer smacked an inside-the-park home run for two RBIs and a 5-1 lead. Lopes junior pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Brannstrom reached on fielder's choice, scoring freshman pinch runner Leinani Lutu after she had entered following junior designated player CC Wong's single..

Holding New Mexico to one hit in the top of the seventh, Thompson struck out three batters in two innings to help improve GCU to 19-1 on the season.

Relievers key GCU 6-2 win vs. Charlotte

The Lopes once again recorded 10 hits and were led by another Lopez two-hit game, which included three RBIs in a 6-2 victory against Charlotte for GCU's 20th win.

Lopes junior Emily Darwin and Thompson came out of the bullpen and allowed one hit per 5 1/3 shutout innings, including 3 2/3 no-hit innings by Darwin, who improved to 3-0 with Thompson earning her second save of the day.

Senior center fielder Hannah Burnett got the wheels turning for the Lopes with a double to left center to lead off the bottom of the first. Burnett advanced to third on a single from junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel, before crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly by senior right fielder Kristin Fifield to put GCU on the board.

Although the 49ers scored two on a home run in the top of the second, the Lopes stayed patient and composed, using a perfect third by Darwin to remain down 2-1.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, Dunckel walked, stole second and advanced to third when Fifield stepped on base after a Charlotte error. However, no additional strategic base running was necessary when Lopez homered to right field and gave the Lopes a 4-2 advantage.

GCU capitalized on a two-out Lopez single and another Charlotte error when freshman pinch runner Emma Rodrigues came home on a throwing error for a 5-2 Lopes lead

After top-notch defense in the sixth, GCU added one more to their evening tally with back-to-back, two-out doubles by senior second baseman Macee Barnes and Burnett in the bottom of the sixth inning.

But solid ground became shaky in the top of the seventh, when a single and two walks suddenly loaded the bases with two outs. Thompson took care of business, striking out her second hitter of the inning, third of the game, and sixth of the doubleheader to secure the win.