(Phoenix, AZ) The Grand Canyon softball team hosted Ball State in a mid-week match up before playing in the GCU/ASU Classic this weekend. The Lopes got on the board early and maintained their lead throughout the game to earn the 5-2 win.
“I was glad we were able to get out and play a midweek game,” said Lopes head coach Shanon Hays. “It was good to throw our pitchers some and get some live at bats against a good club. Ariel (Thompson) and Jacie (Hambrick) threw well and the top of our lineup did some good things. That was what we needed going into this weekend.”
Junior right-handed pitcher Ariel Thompson kept the Cardinals off the board in the first inning allowing the Lopes to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs shortstop Katelyn Dunckel singled up the middle and then scored the first run of the game on a double to right field off the bat of first baseman Denae Chatman. Junior right fielder Kristin Fifield doubled down the left field line scoring Chatman and giving the Lopes a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning the Cardinals cut the Lopes lead in half. The Lopes added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning as left fielder Gianna Nicoletti singled through the left side to start the inning. Center fielder Stephanie Reed was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second. Nicoletti and Reed produced a double steal to put both runners in scoring position for Dunckel. A single through the right side scored Nicoletti and moved Reed to third. Reed ended up scoring as Dunckel stole second allowing her to get home and give the Lopes a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning sophomore Jacie Hambrick came into pitch for the Lopes. She tossed a scoreless fourth and fifth inning keeping the score at 4-1 Lopes. GCU tacked on one more run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nicoletti drew a leadoff walk and then stole her 21st base of the season. Nicoletti moved to third on an error by the Cardinals and then scored the final run for the Lopes on a single up the middle by Dunckel.
The Lopes are back in action on Friday at 2:30 p.m. as the take on BYU in their first game of the GCU / ASU Classic. , AZ) The Grand Canyon softball team hosted Ball State in a mid-week match up before playing in the GCU/ASU Classic this weekend. The Lopes got on the board early and maintained their lead throughout the game to earn the 5-2 win.
“I was glad we were able to get out and play a midweek game,” said Lopes head coach Shanon Hays. “It was good to throw our pitchers some and get some live at bats against a good club. Ariel (Thompson) and Jacie (Hambrick) threw well and the top of our lineup did some good things. That was what we needed going into this weekend.”
Junior right-handed pitcher Ariel Thompson kept the Cardinals off the board in the first inning allowing the Lopes to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs shortstop Katelyn Dunckel singled up the middle and then scored the first run of the game on a double to right field off the bat of first baseman Denae Chatman. Junior right fielder Kristin Fifield doubled down the left field line scoring Chatman and giving the Lopes a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning the Cardinals cut the Lopes lead in half. The Lopes added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning as left fielder Gianna Nicoletti singled through the left side to start the inning. Center fielder Stephanie Reed was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second. Nicoletti and Reed produced a double steal to put both runners in scoring position for Dunckel. A single through the right side scored Nicoletti and moved Reed to third. Reed ended up scoring as Dunckel stole second allowing her to get home and give the Lopes a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning sophomore Jacie Hambrick came into pitch for the Lopes. She tossed a scoreless fourth and fifth inning keeping the score at 4-1 Lopes. GCU tacked on one more run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nicoletti drew a leadoff walk and then stole her 21st base of the season. Nicoletti moved to third on an error by the Cardinals and then scored the final run for the Lopes on a single up the middle by Dunckel.
The Lopes are back in action on Friday at 2:30 p.m. as the take on BYU in their first game of the GCU / ASU Classic.
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon University Athletics – Kellie Reynolds
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