Lopes Dominate Aggies with Spectacular Run-Rule Victory – Grand Canyon University Athletics Recap

Grand Canyon University had an impressive performance on Friday night, dominating Utah State with a 10-2 victory in just five innings at GCU Softball Stadium. The Lopes scored ten unanswered runs, showing their strength as they improved to 13-3.

The game didn’t start well for GCU. They quickly fell behind 2-0 after a tough first inning for the Lopes. However, they quickly turned the tide. In the bottom of the first, sophomore second baseman Savannah Kirk ignited the team with a single and stole second base. Kirk then scored thanks to an RBI single from graduate right fielder Makaiya Gomez, who later brought in two more runs during a massive eight-run second inning.

That second inning was electric. GCU’s lineup showcased their power, scoring eight runs on six hits. After a walk and a hit by pitch to kick things off, the Lopes strung together three consecutive singles from their top three hitters. Kirk, who had one of those hits, ended the night with three hits in total, marking her fourth game this season with three hits.

As the inning continued, junior first baseman Emily Gonzalez added another single to the mix. With the bases loaded, freshman Jada Cooper stepped to the plate. After avoiding the first pitch, she sent the next one deep into left-center field for a grand slam, extending the lead to 9-2.

On the mound, sophomore pitcher Maggie Place secured her fifth win of the season. While she faced some challenges in finding the strike zone compared to her earlier outings, she effectively managed the opposing lineup. Freshman Oakley Vickers made her return after a break, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out two batters.

The Lopes added a final touch to their score with a sacrifice fly from sophomore shortstop Mackenzie Nolan in the fourth inning, bringing the total to 10 runs and sealing the run-rule victory.

GCU is back in action on Saturday, facing Yale and Oregon State at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. The team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming battles.

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