Darwin’s complete-game shutout clinches CBU series

Saturday, April 29

Riverside, Calif.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

40-11, 14-7

California Baptist

27-24, 10-11

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

4/29/2023 9:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Darwin’s 2nd shutout brings Lopes' season total to 12

By: Adrianna Candelaria

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Grand Canyon softball team clinched its sixth WAC series of the season, improving to 14-7 in conference play with its 9-0 victory at California Baptist. Lopes sophomore pitcher Emily Darwin (7-3) threw her second complete game and her second shutout of the season.

Darwin was on track for her second perfect game as well, until CBU spoiled her hot streak with a single in the fourth inning. The Benson, Arizona, native limited the Lancers to four singles withou a leadoff batter reaching base safely until the sixth inning.

With sophomore pitcher Meghan Golden's near no-hitter on Friday night and Darwin's performance in the circle on Saturday, California Baptist only managed one earned run in the series' final two games.

The Lopes produced seven runs on five hits in the first two innings, finishing with 10 hits on the night and 27 in the series. GCU batted through its entire order in the first inning, while CBU's nine-hole hitter didn't see the plate until the third inning.

Senior first baseman Kristin Fifield kick-started the Lopes momentum with a double to right center and was immediately sent home by junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel's base hit for the Lopes' first run.

Designated player Ramsay Lopez's walk pushed Dunckel to second and a wild pitch advanced both runners; a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Kaitlyn Brannstrom allowed Dunckel to score while a Lancer error let junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers reach safely, and pinch runner Mikaela Payne cross the plate.

With two outs and Rodgers on, senior third baseman Madison Schaefer clocked her eighth home run on the season to give the Lopes their fourth and fifth runs on the night. In a similar fashion to the second game of the series, GCU posted five runs on four hits in the first inning of its 8-2 Friday night victory over CBU.

In the top of the second, Dunckel doubled down the left-field line, setting Lopez up for a two-run home run, to notch her 16th homer of the season.

With one out and two on in the bottom of the sixth, the Lancers lined into an unassisted double play, made by Fifield to kill the inning.

After a Lopez single and a double from junior pinch-hitter CC Wong, senior catcher Annie Villalobos came in clutch again with a two-run single to left center for GCU's final runs of the game.

The Lopes return to Phoenix, where they will host their final WAC series against Southern Utah, starting with a 4:30 p.m. Friday doubleheader at GCU Softball Stadium.