PHOENIX—South Dakota jumped out to another lead over Grand Canyon only to see the Lopes rally for a second win in as many days. The Lopes scored 10 unanswered runs in a 10-3 win against the Coyotes on the third and final day of the Lopes Up Classic.
Aleesia Sainz and
Jordyn Pender homered during a three-run, second inning off Grand Canyon starter Ariel Thompson. Sainz and Pender were part of a trio of "Arizona Coyotes" that includes catcher
Bela Goerke who all played their high school ball in and around the Phoenix area. Sainz, Pender and Goerke combined for nine hits including four home runs and nine RBIs in three days at the tournament.
On the other side was Grand Canyon shortstop Katelyn Dunckel who went 4-for-4 with six RBIs Sunday. She answered South Dakota's long balls with one of her own. Her three-run shot to center field in the bottom of the third was almost stolen by
Courtney Wilson who leaped and got a glove on it but couldn't haul it in as it fell on the other side of the wall.
A defensive miscue helped give Grand Canyon (14-1) the lead in the fourth and the Lopes tacked on five more runs in the sixth. Thompson allowed five hits in six innings before handing off to Taryn Batterton in the seventh.
South Dakota went 2-3 on the weekend and is 5-8 overall. The Coyotes travel to Conway, Arkansas, and the University of Central Arkansas.
