PHOENIX — San Diego softball (5-5, 0-0 WCC) dropped a tough 7-0 loss to GCU (11-0, 0-0 MW) in its opening game of the Purple Classic against the undefeated Antelopes at GCU Softball Stadium in Phoenix.

Grand Canyon got the scoring started early in the first inning with an RBI single, an RBI hit-by-pitch, and an RBI sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead after the first frame.

Charlie Johnson, who finished her day with 4.0 IP to the red-hot Antelopes lineup, managed to keep GCU scoreless for the next three frames in the second, third, and fourth innings. 

A pair of home runs in the fifth inning from Grand Canyon allowed the Antelopes to extend their lead to 7-0.

A single and a hit-by-pitch in the top of the sixth inning from Michelle Delgado and Taylor Johnson was enough to get USD into scoring position and force a GCU pitching change, but USD got no closer.

The Toreros will be back in action tomorrow when they continue play in the Purple Classic at the GCU Softball Stadium with an early morning matchup at 8 a.m. against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (2-10, 0-0 Big West).