SAN DIEGO – In a surprising twist, Grand Canyon University (GCU) faced a tough defeat, losing 9-1 in just five innings during their final game against San Diego State. This outcome was unexpected, especially since GCU had dominated the previous two games of the series.
The Lopes hadn’t suffered a run-rule loss since March 2024, marking a significant turnaround. This defeat was also their first conference road loss since mid-March.
GCU started strong, loading the bases in the first inning but only managed to score one run in the second, thanks to an RBI single from Sydney McCray. However, after that, they struggled offensively, going scoreless in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
San Diego State came out swinging. They scored most of their runs in the second inning, racking up six and taking a comfortable 7-1 lead.
On the pitching side, sophomore Oakley Vickers started the game but gave up five runs in just over an inning. Senior Taryn Batterton didn’t fare much better, allowing two more runs before she was relieved. Freshman Abi Jones tried to hold the line but then surrendered a two-run homer that pushed the lead to eight.
McCray did shine amid the loss, managing two of GCU’s three hits and earning her 29th stolen base of the season, remaining perfect in that category.
Looking ahead, GCU faces stiff competition. Both Nevada and UNLV swept their series, putting pressure on GCU, which now leads by just two games with six left in the regular season. Next weekend, GCU will host UNLV in a crucial series. A win there could secure the Lopes a first-round bye in the Mountain West Championship Tournament.
For more insights on college sports and team performances, you can explore detailed stats and analyses from the NCAA here.
