Completed Event: Softball at Utah State on March 28, 2026 , Win , 10, to, 1
Softball
at Utah State
W 10-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Head Coach Ann Pierson
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Season Preview: Softball
2/6/2014 11:53:00 AM | Softball
Open season tomorrow at Red Dirt Classic
After finishing with a record of 40-19 a season ago, head coach Ann Pierson will guide her Antelopes to unchartered territory in 2014, as the GCU softball team will compete in Division I and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play for the first time. The transition to NCAA Division I will mean a four-year hiatus from any post-season play for the 'Lopes.
With a challenging first-year schedule, which features a pair of contests with Pac-12 powerhouse Arizona and a matchup with 2012 National Champion Alabama, the 'Lopes will be quickly acclimated to Division I play.
Also, a highlight on the 2014 schedule is a February invitational that GCU will host, when Nevada and Southern Utah travel to Phoenix for a weekend tournament. Grand Canyon will host their first ever WAC series on March 28, when Kansas City comes to Stapleton-Pierson Stadium, for a three-game series. Click here to view the entire 2014 schedule.
"I'm happy to be returning half of our team this season, as they will provide leadership heading into the Division I transition and will solidify the competitive approach we take into every game," said head coach Ann Pierson.
GCU enjoyed its home amenities during their 2013 campaign, as the 'Lopes tallied an impressive record of 18-2. The 18 wins contributed to an already stellar home record for Pierson. During her tenure in the home dugout, Pierson has led her teams to 126 career victories and only 56 losses.
The 'Lopes will look to build on their success from a season ago, returning a number key players to the diamond in 2014. Junior Kayla Henry returns after having a record-setting spring, as the Tucson native garnered NFCA Second Team All-American honors after setting school single-season records in hits (91) and stolen bases (28). Senior outfielder Claire Zampini batted a blistering .446 from the plate, which ranked first among hitters in the Pacific West Conference last year.
Kelsey Barak also returns at shortstop for the 'Lopes, as the junior hit a team-high six round trippers and finished with a batting average of .358. Barak was the PacWest Preseason Player of the Year a season ago.
Juniors Lauren Regester and Haley Walker are joined by second year players Nicole Newbury and Kailey Regester, who all return to Coach Pierson's lineup after hitting over .300.
Senior Stephanie Pesqueira hurled over 207 innings in the circle last spring, compiling a 21-12 record and accumulating a 1.89 ERA. Pesqueira's efforts in 2013 earned her PacWest Pitcher of the Year honors. Fellow senior Kiki Sepulveda will also be back to aid the pitching staff this spring for the 'Lopes, as the California native finished with a record of 13-4 and an impressive ERA of just 1.69.
Key additions to this year's freshman class include Taylor Nowlin -- who was tagged as the azcentral.com Big Schools Player of the Year. The Sunrise Mountain grad, who won two state titles during her time as a Mustang, was also recognized as the West Valley Prep Athlete of the Year.
Joining Nowlin are Kylie Shull and Camree Wartman, who will both add depth to the infield. Shull and Wartman were both All-State selections in their home states of Arizona and Utah, respectively. A host of other 'Lopes will look to make an impact in 2014, when they put on a GCU uniform for the first time.
Click here for a look at the GCU newcomers and a complete list of the entire 2014 'Lope softball team.
"We are kind of going into the season blind and our biggest thing will be getting over the name on the jersey of our opponent's." Pierson added. "With that being said, we are going to take an aggressive approach into every contest, we have nothing to lose; it is fun to be the spoiler."
In the WAC
In the WAC preseason poll, the 'Lopes were picked to finish sixth this season, as New Mexico State was selected as the preseason favorite by the conference coaches. The Aggies will visit GCU for a three-game series in April.
Zampini and Barak were selected to the 12 member 2014 Preseason All-WAC team. Both Zampini and Barak were First Team All-PacWest selections a year ago.
Click here to view the 2014 WAC softball release and click here to see the 2014 WAC Softball Media Guide.
2014 GCU Softball Capsule
With a challenging first-year schedule, which features a pair of contests with Pac-12 powerhouse Arizona and a matchup with 2012 National Champion Alabama, the 'Lopes will be quickly acclimated to Division I play.
Also, a highlight on the 2014 schedule is a February invitational that GCU will host, when Nevada and Southern Utah travel to Phoenix for a weekend tournament. Grand Canyon will host their first ever WAC series on March 28, when Kansas City comes to Stapleton-Pierson Stadium, for a three-game series. Click here to view the entire 2014 schedule.
"I'm happy to be returning half of our team this season, as they will provide leadership heading into the Division I transition and will solidify the competitive approach we take into every game," said head coach Ann Pierson.
GCU enjoyed its home amenities during their 2013 campaign, as the 'Lopes tallied an impressive record of 18-2. The 18 wins contributed to an already stellar home record for Pierson. During her tenure in the home dugout, Pierson has led her teams to 126 career victories and only 56 losses.
The 'Lopes will look to build on their success from a season ago, returning a number key players to the diamond in 2014. Junior Kayla Henry returns after having a record-setting spring, as the Tucson native garnered NFCA Second Team All-American honors after setting school single-season records in hits (91) and stolen bases (28). Senior outfielder Claire Zampini batted a blistering .446 from the plate, which ranked first among hitters in the Pacific West Conference last year.
Kelsey Barak also returns at shortstop for the 'Lopes, as the junior hit a team-high six round trippers and finished with a batting average of .358. Barak was the PacWest Preseason Player of the Year a season ago.
Juniors Lauren Regester and Haley Walker are joined by second year players Nicole Newbury and Kailey Regester, who all return to Coach Pierson's lineup after hitting over .300.
Senior Stephanie Pesqueira hurled over 207 innings in the circle last spring, compiling a 21-12 record and accumulating a 1.89 ERA. Pesqueira's efforts in 2013 earned her PacWest Pitcher of the Year honors. Fellow senior Kiki Sepulveda will also be back to aid the pitching staff this spring for the 'Lopes, as the California native finished with a record of 13-4 and an impressive ERA of just 1.69.
Key additions to this year's freshman class include Taylor Nowlin -- who was tagged as the azcentral.com Big Schools Player of the Year. The Sunrise Mountain grad, who won two state titles during her time as a Mustang, was also recognized as the West Valley Prep Athlete of the Year.
Joining Nowlin are Kylie Shull and Camree Wartman, who will both add depth to the infield. Shull and Wartman were both All-State selections in their home states of Arizona and Utah, respectively. A host of other 'Lopes will look to make an impact in 2014, when they put on a GCU uniform for the first time.
Click here for a look at the GCU newcomers and a complete list of the entire 2014 'Lope softball team.
"We are kind of going into the season blind and our biggest thing will be getting over the name on the jersey of our opponent's." Pierson added. "With that being said, we are going to take an aggressive approach into every contest, we have nothing to lose; it is fun to be the spoiler."
In the WAC
In the WAC preseason poll, the 'Lopes were picked to finish sixth this season, as New Mexico State was selected as the preseason favorite by the conference coaches. The Aggies will visit GCU for a three-game series in April.
Zampini and Barak were selected to the 12 member 2014 Preseason All-WAC team. Both Zampini and Barak were First Team All-PacWest selections a year ago.
Click here to view the 2014 WAC softball release and click here to see the 2014 WAC Softball Media Guide.
2014 GCU Softball Capsule
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