(Phoenix, AZ) The Grand Canyon softball team closed out its home games on Saturday against Dixie State with a 7-5 win at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes have clinched the WAC West Division, their first regular-season conference title since 2017.
“Really good bounce back win on Senior Day,” Lopes head coach Shanon Hays said after two Friday losses. “It was a lot of fun seeing all of the seniors contribute. Ryan (Denhart) got us off to a good start and Ariel (Thompson) came in and finished it off. GCU is really going to miss this group. They are first-class kids on and off the field. They are anxious to finish this year off with a bang. It is an exciting time of year.”
All five GCU seniors started with Ryan Denhart making her first start in the circle this season, backed by Gianna Nicoletti in left field, Stephanie Reed in center field, Savannah Tourville at third base and Denae Chatman at first base.
The Lopes (34-12, 17-4 WAC) struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Reed was hit by a pitch and moved to second as Chatman drew a walk and sophomore shortstop Katelyn Dunckel brought home Reed on a single to center field. Junio right fielder Kristin Fifield followed with a single to center, scoring Chatman and Dunckel to give the Lopes a 3-0 lead.
GCU tacked on one more run in the bottom of the second inning as junior second baseman Macee Barnes singled up the middle with one out and then stole second. Barnes moved to third and scored on two wild pitches, extending the Lopes lead to 4-0.
Dixie State fought back with four runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning, tying the game at 4-4.
GCU responded in the bottom of the fourth, when Tourville singled through the left side to start the Lopes rally. Junior designated player Hannah Burnettfollowed with an infield single and Nicoletti followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Reed doubled off the right-center field wall to bring home two more GCU runs. Nicoletti scored the Lopes’ last run on a wild pitch.
The Trailblazers added one run in the top of the seventh to cut the Lopes lead to 7-5, but it was the only run that Thompson allowed in 3 1/3 innings to pick up the win and move the junior’s record to 17-4 this season.
GCU is back in action on Friday, when it starts its final regular-season series at California Baptist. The Lopes are tied in the race for the WAC Tournament top seed with East Division leader Stephen F. Austin, which plays East second-place team Abilene Christian in its final series next weekend.
Lopes’ WAC West Division title marks 1st regular-season championship since 2017.
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon Athletics – Kellie Reynolds
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