Completed Event: Softball at San Diego State on April 17, 2026 , Win , 12, to, 3 , (5 inn.)
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Trio picked for preseason honors
1/29/2020 10:07:00 AM | Softball
Lopes tabbed for 2nd; Denhart named top pitcher
The Grand Canyon softball team was picked to finish second in the WAC this season by conference head coaches while three Lopes players earned Preseason All-WAC nods.
Seattle U was picked to win the conference with GCU picking up two of seven first-place votes to be placed second, ahead of New Mexico State in third.
Lopes junior pitcher Ryan Denhart was chosen as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year and joined GCU senior Brianna Aguilar and sophomore Savannah Tourville on the 13-member Preseason All-WAC team. All three were honored by the WAC in previous seasons.
"This is a great honor for Sav, Bo (Aguilar) and Ryan since the opposing coaches vote on this," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "They had great seasons last year and we're hoping to build on that for the upcoming season. I'm really proud of their commitment and tenacity. It has definitely shown up on the field."
A native of Los Alamitos, California, Denhart earned All-WAC second-team honors and was named to the All-WAC Tournament team last season as a sophomore. She led the Lopes with a 2.21 ERA while picking up 11 wins and recording 68 strikeouts in the circle. Denhart appeared in 28 games, totaling 123.2 innings with 22 starts.
Aguilar earned All-WAC second-team honors in her previous three GCU seasons. Aguilar enters her senior season with a 33-29 career record and an ERA of 3.10. The right-hander tossed 95 innings with 12 starts and 28 appearances in 2019. She ranked second in saves in the WAC with four, tying GCU's single-season record.
A native of Whitter, California, Tourville is coming off of an impressive freshman campaign as she led the Lopes in four offensive categories in her first season: RBI (48), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.586) and home runs (10). Tourville was named to the All-WAC first team and the All-WAC Tournament team.
The Lopes open the season against Stanford in the GCU Kickoff Tournament at GCU Softball Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 6. The first pitch is slated for 6 p.m. (Phoenix time).
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Seattle U (5) 35
2. Grand Canyon (2) 30
3. New Mexico State 28
4. California Baptist 17
5. Utah Valley 16
6. Kansas City 13
7. CSU Bakersfield 8
Preseason All-WAC team
Player Team Yr. Pos.
Brianna Aguilar Grand Canyon Sr. P/UTL
Nikki Butler NM State Sr. C
Madison Cathcart Seattle U Sr. INF
Ally Choate Seattle U Jr. OF
Ryan Denhart Grand Canyon Jr. P
Abby Doughty Utah Valley So. OF
Brittany Galvez California Baptist Sr. INF
Caitlyn Lloyd California Baptist Sr. OF
Carley Nance Seattle U RJr. P
Shianne Smith Seattle U Jr. P
Lyndsay Steverson Utah Valley Sr. INF
Bailey Thompson Seattle U Jr. C
Savannah Tourville Grand Canyon So. INF
Seattle U was picked to win the conference with GCU picking up two of seven first-place votes to be placed second, ahead of New Mexico State in third.
Lopes junior pitcher Ryan Denhart was chosen as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year and joined GCU senior Brianna Aguilar and sophomore Savannah Tourville on the 13-member Preseason All-WAC team. All three were honored by the WAC in previous seasons.
"This is a great honor for Sav, Bo (Aguilar) and Ryan since the opposing coaches vote on this," Lopes head coach Ann Pierson said. "They had great seasons last year and we're hoping to build on that for the upcoming season. I'm really proud of their commitment and tenacity. It has definitely shown up on the field."
A native of Los Alamitos, California, Denhart earned All-WAC second-team honors and was named to the All-WAC Tournament team last season as a sophomore. She led the Lopes with a 2.21 ERA while picking up 11 wins and recording 68 strikeouts in the circle. Denhart appeared in 28 games, totaling 123.2 innings with 22 starts.
Aguilar earned All-WAC second-team honors in her previous three GCU seasons. Aguilar enters her senior season with a 33-29 career record and an ERA of 3.10. The right-hander tossed 95 innings with 12 starts and 28 appearances in 2019. She ranked second in saves in the WAC with four, tying GCU's single-season record.
A native of Whitter, California, Tourville is coming off of an impressive freshman campaign as she led the Lopes in four offensive categories in her first season: RBI (48), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.586) and home runs (10). Tourville was named to the All-WAC first team and the All-WAC Tournament team.
The Lopes open the season against Stanford in the GCU Kickoff Tournament at GCU Softball Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 6. The first pitch is slated for 6 p.m. (Phoenix time).
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Seattle U (5) 35
2. Grand Canyon (2) 30
3. New Mexico State 28
4. California Baptist 17
5. Utah Valley 16
6. Kansas City 13
7. CSU Bakersfield 8
Preseason All-WAC team
Player Team Yr. Pos.
Brianna Aguilar Grand Canyon Sr. P/UTL
Nikki Butler NM State Sr. C
Madison Cathcart Seattle U Sr. INF
Ally Choate Seattle U Jr. OF
Ryan Denhart Grand Canyon Jr. P
Abby Doughty Utah Valley So. OF
Brittany Galvez California Baptist Sr. INF
Caitlyn Lloyd California Baptist Sr. OF
Carley Nance Seattle U RJr. P
Shianne Smith Seattle U Jr. P
Lyndsay Steverson Utah Valley Sr. INF
Bailey Thompson Seattle U Jr. C
Savannah Tourville Grand Canyon So. INF
Players Mentioned
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