Upcoming Event: Softball versus Pima CC on September 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, May 11
Phoenix, Ariz
10 a.m.
Grand Canyon
44-11
14
vs
3
Stephen F. Austin
28-23
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
SFA
0
0
1
1
1
3
4
1
Grand Canyon
4
0
5
5
X
14
16
0
Season-best hitting opens tourney on roll
5/11/2023 1:20:00 PM | Softball, Paul Coro
GCU crushes Stephen F. Austin 14-3 with Fifield, Dunckel each getting 4 RBIs
The Grand Canyon softball team's patience was tested with a maddening Wednesday of watching six other teams play postseason softball in its home.
So when the rising anticipation gave way Thursday to their WAC Tournament opener at GCU Softball Stadium, the Lopes cleaned house.
GCU wiped out Stephen F. Austin 14-3 with a five-inning, run-rule victory that puts the Lopes in the winner's bracket semifinal against Seattle U at 1 p.m. Friday.
"We came out here ready to rock," said GCU senior right fielder Kristin Fifield, who bumped her nation-leading RBI total to 81 with four more coming on her 3-for-3 Thursday. "All of us were watching the games yesterday like, 'When is it our turn?' We were so excited to come out here and compete. Starting off like that shows we have so much fight and grit to get it done."
The Lopes added to their program-record victory total by moving to 44-11 on the strength of a dominant start and their season's highest hit total (16).
GCU's first seven batters of the game reached base as the Lopes scored at least four runs in the first inning for the 11th time this season. And they never let up, doubling their national top-10 scoring average to tie their second-highest scoring game of the season.
Fifield and junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel each knocked in four runs and senior designated player Ramsay Lopez added three. Dunckel and Lopez each homered, as did senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow for the first time this season.
The Lopes are 10-1 since head coach Shanon Hays flipped Fifield and Dunckel to the No. 2 and No. 3 batting order spots, respectively. Thursday's game showed why because Fifield put GCU quickly on the board after senior center fielder Hannah Burnett was hit by a pitch and stole a base for the WAC-leading 33rd time in 34 tries this season.
"When Hannah gets on base, that's why I hit Fifield right after her – you've got two things that are a major worry," Hays said. "It gets Fifield better pitches and you can't see Hannah as well when she's stealing. It got us off to a good start. Of course, Fifield staying hot helps."
Burnett singled and scored in her ensuing bats to take her batting average to .429 this season.
After Burnett's first-inning run, Dunckel worked her count full just as Fifield had for the RBI single. Dunckel crushed the next pitch over the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead and her ninth home run.
Stephen F. Austin (28-23) changed pitchers before its first out, but the Lopes still pushed the lead to 4-0 when senior Madison Schaefer pulled a 1-2 pitch into left field for a RBI single.
"This is exactly the energy we wanted to come out with – come out hard, come out hot," Dunckel said. "We didn't want to be content with any score. Our fault is that we get out hot and cruise. We're not letting that happen. Fourteen runs is really good for what we wanted."
GCU starting pitcher Meghan Golden (13-2) was getting diving defensive gems from Schaefer and Burnett before the Lopes stretched the lead to 9-1 with a five-run bottom of the third.
Four consecutive RBI hits came from Burnett, Fifield, Dunckel and Lopez with Fifield and Dunckel each ripping doubles into the left-center gap.
"Our whole lineup is insane," Fifield said. "If one of us doesn't get it done, we know the person behind us is going to go up and do it. Having that trust and depth in our lineup is awesome. Trusting everyone is the best feeling ever."
Hays wanted more production from the bottom of the lineup and got it with senior second baseman Macee Barnes contributing a key single to the third-inning rally, junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers going 2 for 3 and Koeltzow igniting a five-run fourth inning with a solo home run.
"Kiko's (Koeltzow's) home run was big, but really a key at bat was Macee Barnes driving the ball to get us going in that big inning," Hays said. "She knocked the top off, and we swung the bat pretty well."
The tournament has a double-elimination format, but GCU's victory puts it two consecutive wins away from defending its title and returning to the NCAA tournament. If the Lopes win the 1 p.m. Friday, they could secure the trophy in Saturday's championship round at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., if necessary. If they lose Friday's 1 p.m. game, they would play an elimination game at 7 p.m. Friday.
With a six-game winning streak, the Lopes are 30-6 at GCU Softball Stadium. That includes a three-game sweep against their Friday opponent, No. 4 seed Seattle (35-18), which upset No. 1 seed Utah Tech 3-0 on Thursday.
"You get to wake up in your own bed, eat your own food and then come out here and be on your own field," Dunckel said. "You know the grooves and how it plays and that's the best. And with all our fans out here, it feels like home."
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So when the rising anticipation gave way Thursday to their WAC Tournament opener at GCU Softball Stadium, the Lopes cleaned house.
GCU wiped out Stephen F. Austin 14-3 with a five-inning, run-rule victory that puts the Lopes in the winner's bracket semifinal against Seattle U at 1 p.m. Friday.
"We came out here ready to rock," said GCU senior right fielder Kristin Fifield, who bumped her nation-leading RBI total to 81 with four more coming on her 3-for-3 Thursday. "All of us were watching the games yesterday like, 'When is it our turn?' We were so excited to come out here and compete. Starting off like that shows we have so much fight and grit to get it done."
The Lopes added to their program-record victory total by moving to 44-11 on the strength of a dominant start and their season's highest hit total (16).
GCU's first seven batters of the game reached base as the Lopes scored at least four runs in the first inning for the 11th time this season. And they never let up, doubling their national top-10 scoring average to tie their second-highest scoring game of the season.
Fifield and junior shortstop Katelyn Dunckel each knocked in four runs and senior designated player Ramsay Lopez added three. Dunckel and Lopez each homered, as did senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow for the first time this season.
The Lopes are 10-1 since head coach Shanon Hays flipped Fifield and Dunckel to the No. 2 and No. 3 batting order spots, respectively. Thursday's game showed why because Fifield put GCU quickly on the board after senior center fielder Hannah Burnett was hit by a pitch and stole a base for the WAC-leading 33rd time in 34 tries this season.
"When Hannah gets on base, that's why I hit Fifield right after her – you've got two things that are a major worry," Hays said. "It gets Fifield better pitches and you can't see Hannah as well when she's stealing. It got us off to a good start. Of course, Fifield staying hot helps."
Burnett singled and scored in her ensuing bats to take her batting average to .429 this season.
After Burnett's first-inning run, Dunckel worked her count full just as Fifield had for the RBI single. Dunckel crushed the next pitch over the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead and her ninth home run.Stephen F. Austin (28-23) changed pitchers before its first out, but the Lopes still pushed the lead to 4-0 when senior Madison Schaefer pulled a 1-2 pitch into left field for a RBI single.
"This is exactly the energy we wanted to come out with – come out hard, come out hot," Dunckel said. "We didn't want to be content with any score. Our fault is that we get out hot and cruise. We're not letting that happen. Fourteen runs is really good for what we wanted."
GCU starting pitcher Meghan Golden (13-2) was getting diving defensive gems from Schaefer and Burnett before the Lopes stretched the lead to 9-1 with a five-run bottom of the third.
Four consecutive RBI hits came from Burnett, Fifield, Dunckel and Lopez with Fifield and Dunckel each ripping doubles into the left-center gap.
"Our whole lineup is insane," Fifield said. "If one of us doesn't get it done, we know the person behind us is going to go up and do it. Having that trust and depth in our lineup is awesome. Trusting everyone is the best feeling ever."
Hays wanted more production from the bottom of the lineup and got it with senior second baseman Macee Barnes contributing a key single to the third-inning rally, junior left fielder Kayla Rodgers going 2 for 3 and Koeltzow igniting a five-run fourth inning with a solo home run."Kiko's (Koeltzow's) home run was big, but really a key at bat was Macee Barnes driving the ball to get us going in that big inning," Hays said. "She knocked the top off, and we swung the bat pretty well."
The tournament has a double-elimination format, but GCU's victory puts it two consecutive wins away from defending its title and returning to the NCAA tournament. If the Lopes win the 1 p.m. Friday, they could secure the trophy in Saturday's championship round at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., if necessary. If they lose Friday's 1 p.m. game, they would play an elimination game at 7 p.m. Friday.
With a six-game winning streak, the Lopes are 30-6 at GCU Softball Stadium. That includes a three-game sweep against their Friday opponent, No. 4 seed Seattle (35-18), which upset No. 1 seed Utah Tech 3-0 on Thursday.
"You get to wake up in your own bed, eat your own food and then come out here and be on your own field," Dunckel said. "You know the grooves and how it plays and that's the best. And with all our fans out here, it feels like home."
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Golden, Meghan (13-2)
L: Brooke Gainous (12-9)
Batting:
HR: Camryn Middlebrook 1
RBI: Camryn Middlebrook 1 ; Gaby Garcia 1 ; Sydney Carithers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Camryn Middlebrook 2 ; Lexi Benson 1
Batting:
2B: Fifield, Kristin 1 ; Dunckel, Katelyn 1 ; Brannstrom, Kaitlyn 1 ; Rodgers, Kayla 1
HR: Dunckel, Katelyn 1 ; Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Koeltzow, Kinsey 1
RBI: Burnett, Hannah 1 ; Fifield, Kristin 4 ; Dunckel, Katelyn 4 ; Lopez, Ramsay 3 ; Schaefer, Madison 1 ; Koeltzow, Kinsey 1
SF: Dunckel, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burnett, Hannah 3 ; Fifield, Kristin 3 ; Dunckel, Katelyn 2 ; Lopez, Ramsay 1 ; Rodrigues, Emma 1 ; Rodgers, Kayla 1 ; Koeltzow, Kinsey 1 ; Barnes, Macee 2
SB: Burnett, Hannah 1
HBP: Burnett, Hannah 1 ; Kepa’a, Lovey 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
3
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
2
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
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