PHOENIX--- The No. 11 Grand Canyon Antelopes (24-4) swept a doubleheader this afternoon from the visiting SF State Gators 7-4 and 5-4 in a non-conference doubleheader at Stapleton-Pierson Field. Grand Canyon now has won 10 straight games while the Gators fall to 11-11.
In the opener, it was trio of Amy Searcy, Tracy Luken, and Nikki Lorenzi that keyed the series opening win for the Antelopes. Lubken put Grand Canyon on the board first with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning that scored Lorenzi, who opened the inning with a lead-off bunt single. Then in the Antelope third, Lubken put the hosts up 5-0 with a two-out three-run home run to left center.
The score remained 5-0 Antelopes, until the Gator fourth. Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) doubled down the left field line and scored on a two-out single by Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty). SF State scored two more runs in its half of the fifth to cut the Antelope lead to 5-3.
Kylie Herrada (Gilroy, California, Gilroy) opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a one-out single by Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, California, Pinole Valley). Summer Powell (Rocklin, California, Rocklin ) singled to load the bases for Kendra Wood, who hit a deep single to center field to score Herrada. Gubbine scored on a sacrifice fly by Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger). Searcy stranded the tying run on base as she got the last Gator to fly out to left field.
Grand Canyon added two insurance runs in its half of the sixth as they drew five walks that scored two runs to make it 7-3 Antelopes. Powell hit a one-out solo home run in the Gator seventh to cut the lead to 7-4 Grand Canyon, but Searcy retired the final batters on a line-out and a ground out.
Searcy improved to 12-3 as she pitched a complete game, giving up 9 hits, four runs, one walk and striking out four. Lubken finished 2-for-3 with 5 RBIs and two runs scored while Lorenzi also was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Jackson fell to 6-3 for the Gators in the start while Kendra Wood pitched four innings of relief, giving up two runs, walking four and striking out six. Four Gators had two hits apiece in Gubbine, Kendra Wood, Powell, and Herrada.
SF State took a 3-0 lead in the night cap with a three-run second inning. Cardenas opened the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Esquibel. Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, California, Live Oak)then was hit by a pitch while Cardenas scored when Herrada reached on an error. Jensen singled home McDonald and then Gubbine singled to load the bases for Powell who drove home Herrada with the third run of the inning on a single up the middle.
The Antelopes came back with a three-run of their own tying the game on a Lorenzi single to left field that drove in Christine Norvell. They took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Lubken's two-out double to center field that scored Kara Holthorf, who reached on a two-out walk.
Kelsey Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) drove home Danielle Mestas with the tying run on a pinch-hit single to left center. Mestas pinch ran for Esquibel, who reached base on a lead-off walk to tie the game at 4-4. Grand Canyon broke the tie on Teddy Barry's two-out single through the left side that drove in Kaycee Gomez with the go-ahead run.
Ivy Campas (11-2) retired the Gators in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the win for the Antelopes. Campas pitched 7 innings, giving up five hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking two. Gayle Nisbet had two of the six Antelope hits.
Carolyn Knudson (Napa, California, Napa Valley Junior College) (0-2) picked up the loss for the Gators, pitching 2.1 innings of relief while striking out one and walking one and giving up three hits and one run.
Five different Gators had one hit apiece. SF State and Grand Canyon will play the final game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 12pm at Stapleton-Pierson Field in Phoenix.
Box Score Game one
Box Score Game two
