Completed Event: Softball at San Diego State on April 17, 2026 , Win , 12, to, 3 , (5 inn.)
Softball
at San Diego State
W 12-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Coro: Lopes take on No. 1 — again
3/5/2019 9:42:00 PM | Softball, Paul Coro
Defending champ FSU visits GCU with 22-0 mark
Of the 294 Division I softball programs in the nation, the No. 1 team is visiting GCU Softball Stadium on Wednesday night.
There are 292 teams that have lost a game this season but Grand Canyon is matched up with one of two that remain undefeated … the only team that can call itself reigning national champions … the team that is hitting a NCAA-best .386.
The caliber of athletic visitors to GCU rarely reaches the echelon it will when Florida State plays the Lopes in a 5 p.m. doubleheader, except when GCU brought in the previous national champion when Oklahoma was No. 1 last season.
GCU, Arizona and Ohio State are the only softball programs in the nation to schedule nonconference meetings with the reigning national champion in each of the past two seasons.
"Regardless of what their record is or what their reputation is as a program, you want to approach everybody and play with your hair on fire," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "Teams can overlook certain teams. We could get overlooked by some of these big teams. That's always a great time to play these teams and steal something from them and at least be a memory. We want to win. If we don't win, we want to put a scare into them."
GCU is 11-8 this season but is coming off a weekend home tournament that included Power Five wins against Utah and Iowa State.
Florida State is a far taller chore at 22-0 but the Seminoles' 28-game winning streak has included three one-run wins this season, including one against the Iowa State that GCU beat 2-0 and a Sunday 2-1 win against Central Florida.
"We take it as an opportunity to learn from them," said GCU senior third baseman Sierra Smith, who is hitting .371 this season. "Our goal is to do everything we can to compete with them. We know we have what it takes to hang with these teams. We don't want to settle for just staying in the game with them. We want to beat them. We're going to try to win every pitch and every play. That's the confidence we have to have."
GCU ranks 21st in the nation for average attendance (577 per game) but will draw more Wednesday night for two games against the national champions, who are on pace for a fourth consecutive season of at least 55 wins.
"It's such a storied program with a tremendous coaching staff and obviously tremendous athletes to do what they did and be successful every year," Pierson said. "It takes a lot to win a championship and they put it all together last year. It'll be fun to play, not only a team of that caliber, but we've never played Florida State before. It's a tremendous honor for us and we're excited for the challenge."
On top of leading the nation in hitting with six starters batting .400-plus, Florida State ranks ninth for team ERA at 1.41 with ace Meghan King at 0.72 through 11 appearances.
"It's exciting," said Lopes freshman second baseman Savannah Tourville, who has three home runs this season. "Just go and do our best. Nothing to lose. Have fun."
GCU attracts high-profile programs because of its new stadium, Phoenix weather and a Lopes team that enhances opponents' strength of schedule.
"It's a big recruiting piece," Pierson said. "A lot of these kids could play at these big programs, maybe as role players, but they want to play against the big schools. They want to be in that environment and face that level of competition. It's definitely a selling point for us."
Softball is not alone for luring No. 1 teams to campus. The men's volleyball team had top-ranked Ohio State come to GCU two years ago. The top-ranked beach volleyball team, UCLA, will visit GCU next month.
The Lopes are not satisfied to play No. 1. They want to compete with No. 1.
"It's really a great opportunity because we grow up watching these teams," Smith said. "Being able to play against them and compete against them, it's a dream come true. You're really living out your dreams.
"They're great players and we respect them but we can't be afraid."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
There are 292 teams that have lost a game this season but Grand Canyon is matched up with one of two that remain undefeated … the only team that can call itself reigning national champions … the team that is hitting a NCAA-best .386.
The caliber of athletic visitors to GCU rarely reaches the echelon it will when Florida State plays the Lopes in a 5 p.m. doubleheader, except when GCU brought in the previous national champion when Oklahoma was No. 1 last season.
GCU, Arizona and Ohio State are the only softball programs in the nation to schedule nonconference meetings with the reigning national champion in each of the past two seasons.
"Regardless of what their record is or what their reputation is as a program, you want to approach everybody and play with your hair on fire," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "Teams can overlook certain teams. We could get overlooked by some of these big teams. That's always a great time to play these teams and steal something from them and at least be a memory. We want to win. If we don't win, we want to put a scare into them."
GCU is 11-8 this season but is coming off a weekend home tournament that included Power Five wins against Utah and Iowa State.
Florida State is a far taller chore at 22-0 but the Seminoles' 28-game winning streak has included three one-run wins this season, including one against the Iowa State that GCU beat 2-0 and a Sunday 2-1 win against Central Florida.
"We take it as an opportunity to learn from them," said GCU senior third baseman Sierra Smith, who is hitting .371 this season. "Our goal is to do everything we can to compete with them. We know we have what it takes to hang with these teams. We don't want to settle for just staying in the game with them. We want to beat them. We're going to try to win every pitch and every play. That's the confidence we have to have."
GCU ranks 21st in the nation for average attendance (577 per game) but will draw more Wednesday night for two games against the national champions, who are on pace for a fourth consecutive season of at least 55 wins.
"It's such a storied program with a tremendous coaching staff and obviously tremendous athletes to do what they did and be successful every year," Pierson said. "It takes a lot to win a championship and they put it all together last year. It'll be fun to play, not only a team of that caliber, but we've never played Florida State before. It's a tremendous honor for us and we're excited for the challenge."
On top of leading the nation in hitting with six starters batting .400-plus, Florida State ranks ninth for team ERA at 1.41 with ace Meghan King at 0.72 through 11 appearances.
"It's exciting," said Lopes freshman second baseman Savannah Tourville, who has three home runs this season. "Just go and do our best. Nothing to lose. Have fun."
GCU attracts high-profile programs because of its new stadium, Phoenix weather and a Lopes team that enhances opponents' strength of schedule.
"It's a big recruiting piece," Pierson said. "A lot of these kids could play at these big programs, maybe as role players, but they want to play against the big schools. They want to be in that environment and face that level of competition. It's definitely a selling point for us."
Softball is not alone for luring No. 1 teams to campus. The men's volleyball team had top-ranked Ohio State come to GCU two years ago. The top-ranked beach volleyball team, UCLA, will visit GCU next month.
The Lopes are not satisfied to play No. 1. They want to compete with No. 1.
"It's really a great opportunity because we grow up watching these teams," Smith said. "Being able to play against them and compete against them, it's a dream come true. You're really living out your dreams.
"They're great players and we respect them but we can't be afraid."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSydney McCray Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Emily Gonzalez Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Jada Cooper Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Natalie Fritz Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04