Lopes sweep Seattle U doubleheader

Friday, April 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

4/21/2023 11:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU wins 5th WAC series of season, plays finale Saturday

By: Adrianna Candelaria

The Grand Canyon softball team (36-10, 11-6) won their fifth WAC series of the season, against Seattle U (27-16, 8-9 WAC), securing sole possession of second place in conference standings.

GCU dominates game one of opening pair

The Lopes held the Redhawks to a single inning of scoring, posting only three runs on four hits while they recorded three positive offensive innings with nine runs on 12 hits. GCU scored first in their third consecutive game.

A lead-off walk for senior center fielder Hannah Burnett kicked off the four-run inning; Burnett stole second and third to get into scoring position before junior short stop Katelyn Dunckel was also walked. A single through the left side from senior designated player Ramsay Lopez was enough to score both Burnett and Dunckel to get the Lopes on the board.

Lopez advanced to second on a Brannstrom single up the middle before being substituted by freshman pinch run Leinani Lutu. Senior third baseman Madison Schaefer then hit the Lopes third single in a row to send Lutu to third and Brannstrom to second. Lutu took advantage of a wild pitch and put the Lopes up 3-0.

The bases loaded with one out as junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers walked on; when junior pinch hitter CC Wong reached on an error, Brannstrom scored the Lopes fourth run.

It seemed as if the door cracked open for the Redhawks when they found three runs in the top of the second, but GCU affirmed their lead with Dunckel RBI in the bottom of the fourth. The Lopes held Seattle U scoreless through the remainder of the game.

GCU posted another hard push in the bottom of the sixth, notching another four runs on four hits.

A Burnett single followed by a double from senior right fielder Kristin Fifield quickly placed two runners in scoring position and allowed Burnett to come home on another Seattle U wild pitch.

Lopez then sent her second base hit of the night through the middle, sending Fifield across the plate. Brannstrom followed up with her sixth home run of the season, to score the final two innings of the ball game.

Lopes sweep opening pair

Despite being outhit seven to five by Seattle U, GCU managed its second victory of the night, closing the night 5-4 win over the Redhawks.

Scoring first, once again, the Lopes put up two in the first with two RBI from Brannstrom.

Seattle U briefly tied GCU, in the top of the third, but the Lopes pulled out an RBI single from Wong to regain the lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lopes scored their final runs of the evening, when Burnett walked, for the third time tonight, Fifield doubled to hit Burnett in, and Dunckel singled to bring Fifield home, for a 5-2 lead.

Although the Redhawks attempted a late comeback in the sixth, posting two runs to put them only one run behind the Lopes, GCU held them to an up and down top of the seventh.

The series finale is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m. (Phoenix Time).