SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State softball team (21-21, 6-11 Mountain West) dropped its series opener against No. 19/24 Grand Canyon (42-5, 15-2 MW) on Friday night by a 12-3 score in five innings.
Grand Canyon jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a grand slam and a two-run single to take a 5-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Lopes added on with another two-run single, a run on a wild pitch and a pair of RBI walks to make it 11-0. Key-annah Pu’a entered with two outs and struck out Trinity Martin to end the inning.
Emily Gonzalez led off with a homer in the third, but Pu’a responded by retiring the next three hitters. The Aztecs got on the board when Jazmin Williams belted a solo homer to left field on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning.
The Aztecs reduced the deficit in the fourth. Pu’a pitched a three up, three down inning. Angie Yellen singled to lead off in the bottom of the frame and Olivia Gigante launched a two-run homer out to left field, her third homer in the last three games.
Pu’a limited the Lopes to a single in the top of the fifth inning. Gabriella Terrones reached base in the bottom of the frame when she was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season, but she could get no further.
THE NOTE
Olivia Gigante extended her team lead with her 11th home run of the season.
UP NEXT
San Diego State continues its series against No. 19/24 Grand Canyon at 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. Saturday is the alumni game with a silicone bracelet giveaway and will air on Mountain West Network and on Sunday, the team will sign autographs following the contest.
Grand Canyon 12, San Diego State 3
Grand Canyon (42-5, 15-2) 651 00 – 12 6 0
San Diego State (21-21, 6-11) 001 20 – 3 3 2
W – Fritz, 9-0; L – Kwarta, 5-5
HR: Martin, GCU (13); Gonzalez, GCU (9); Gigante, SDSU (11); Williams, SDSU (9)