Upcoming Event: Softball versus Pima CC on September 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Softball
6 p.m.
vs Pima CC
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, May 11
Phoenix, Ariz
10 a.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
Stephen F. Austin
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Home field, hot play key WAC tourney repeat try
5/10/2023 10:05:00 AM | Softball, Paul Coro
With program-record 43 wins, GCU pursues title defense on home field
Six current Grand Canyon softball players know the jubilant feeling of being on the field when they turned a double play to end last year's WAC Tournament and the ensuing celebration of airborne gloves, mound-storming teammates and the lifting of a championship trophy.
Ever since then, the returning Lopes have been in pursuit of recapturing that feeling with an enhancement to be repeat champions on their home field.
They succeeded in positioning themselves for that in this week's WAC Tournament at GCU Softball Stadium, showing back-to-back potential with a 43-11 record that set the Lopes' all-time win record.
GCU earned a bye past the first two tournament rounds to play its first game at 10 a.m. Thursday against the Wednesday 4 p.m. winner of No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 7 seed UT Arlington.
"It's very different, yet very similar," said Lopes senior center fielder Hannah Burnett, the WAC's leading hitter (.422) and base stealer (32 on 33 attempts). "We all know that we have something to show, something to prove. Last year, we went ahead and proved that, so this year we have to defend that championship and go at it to have fun. This is a fun team to be on."
After GCU claimed the largest one-year win increase of any 2022 NCAA tournament team, Lopes head coach Shanon Hays and his staff have positioned this year's team to be three consecutive wins away from returning to a regional.
The WAC Tournament has a double-elimination format, a route the Lopes needed last year before rallying from a 3-0 hole to beat Stephen F. Austin in the championship game in Huntsville, Texas.
"It's a new slate with this new team and all the pitching we have," said GCU senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow, the WAC Defensive Player of the Year. "We're loaded with good pitchers. We're loaded with bats. That fires us up to keep pushing. We all love each other and get along so well, so to see new faces and have the passion and desire to compete is exciting."
This season's team hits nearly as well as last year's breakthrough championship. GCU ranks 14th nationally with .321 hitting and has maintained a speed element on the basepaths with 82 stolen bases.
The boosted change to this season's formula is power.
With senior right fielder Kristin Fifield leading the nation with 77 RBIs in a 20-home run season, GCU already has pounded 18 more home runs than last season with graduate Ramsay Lopez adding 17 homers to rank 12th among active players nationally for career home runs (54).
"We're more of a slugging percentage-type team," Hays said. "Our numbers have shown that, thank goodness. I really want to see seven, eight and nine (in the lineup order) be productive this week. If we can do that, our lineup looks really good when they're swinging the bats well and executing."
GCU enters the postseason rolling off five consecutive wins in which it has outscored opponents 41-5.
The Lopes deepened their pitching staff by additing sophomores Emily Darwin and Meghan Golden and junior Hailey Hudson to senior Ariel Thompson, last season's WAC Tournament MVP for 16 2/3 innings of work. The staff has posted a conference-best 2.34 ERA.
"We've tried to get a good feel on who's throwing well," Hays said. "It's a good problem to have. This past week, with Ariel and Meghan throwing complete games, we needed to split the last game between Hailey and Emily. That worked well and all four got their work in.
"You're as good as your starting pitcher getting you off to a good start. That'll be the whole key."
GCU might have challenged last season's steals total had freshman Brynn-Jordan Smythe not suffered a head injury when she was batting .480 after earning a starting spot.
The Lopes did not lack for offense in its solidified lineup, which has progressed late in the conference season with senior third baseman Madison Schaefer healed from a midseason ankle injury and six Lopes starters hitting better than .300 this season.
"The conference is so much better overall, so every team can beat you for sure," said Hays, whose team won nine of its past 10 games. "Hopefully, we'll be locked in and focused. I can't see us not be. We want to stay loose and be aggressive at the same time."
GCU did not win the WAC Tournament the last time it hosted in 2019 but is a striking 29-6 at home this season. When they are not winning off its power, speed and contact, the Lopes pitchers lead the WAC with a 2.34 ERA and have not allowed an earned run in four consecutive games.
Nevertheless, the Lopes are grounded by being the No. 2 seed to No. 1 seed Utah Tech, which GCU went 2-1 against in an April home series. The players' weekly goals meetings sharpened with clarity for the week that can extend their season into an NCAA regional.
"As leaders, these girls are easy to lead," Koeltzow said. "Loving them well and getting on the field together is something we enjoy."
Â
Ever since then, the returning Lopes have been in pursuit of recapturing that feeling with an enhancement to be repeat champions on their home field.
They succeeded in positioning themselves for that in this week's WAC Tournament at GCU Softball Stadium, showing back-to-back potential with a 43-11 record that set the Lopes' all-time win record.
GCU earned a bye past the first two tournament rounds to play its first game at 10 a.m. Thursday against the Wednesday 4 p.m. winner of No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 7 seed UT Arlington.
"It's very different, yet very similar," said Lopes senior center fielder Hannah Burnett, the WAC's leading hitter (.422) and base stealer (32 on 33 attempts). "We all know that we have something to show, something to prove. Last year, we went ahead and proved that, so this year we have to defend that championship and go at it to have fun. This is a fun team to be on."After GCU claimed the largest one-year win increase of any 2022 NCAA tournament team, Lopes head coach Shanon Hays and his staff have positioned this year's team to be three consecutive wins away from returning to a regional.
The WAC Tournament has a double-elimination format, a route the Lopes needed last year before rallying from a 3-0 hole to beat Stephen F. Austin in the championship game in Huntsville, Texas.
"It's a new slate with this new team and all the pitching we have," said GCU senior catcher Kinsey Koeltzow, the WAC Defensive Player of the Year. "We're loaded with good pitchers. We're loaded with bats. That fires us up to keep pushing. We all love each other and get along so well, so to see new faces and have the passion and desire to compete is exciting."This season's team hits nearly as well as last year's breakthrough championship. GCU ranks 14th nationally with .321 hitting and has maintained a speed element on the basepaths with 82 stolen bases.
The boosted change to this season's formula is power.
With senior right fielder Kristin Fifield leading the nation with 77 RBIs in a 20-home run season, GCU already has pounded 18 more home runs than last season with graduate Ramsay Lopez adding 17 homers to rank 12th among active players nationally for career home runs (54).
"We're more of a slugging percentage-type team," Hays said. "Our numbers have shown that, thank goodness. I really want to see seven, eight and nine (in the lineup order) be productive this week. If we can do that, our lineup looks really good when they're swinging the bats well and executing."
GCU enters the postseason rolling off five consecutive wins in which it has outscored opponents 41-5.
The Lopes deepened their pitching staff by additing sophomores Emily Darwin and Meghan Golden and junior Hailey Hudson to senior Ariel Thompson, last season's WAC Tournament MVP for 16 2/3 innings of work. The staff has posted a conference-best 2.34 ERA.
"We've tried to get a good feel on who's throwing well," Hays said. "It's a good problem to have. This past week, with Ariel and Meghan throwing complete games, we needed to split the last game between Hailey and Emily. That worked well and all four got their work in."You're as good as your starting pitcher getting you off to a good start. That'll be the whole key."
GCU might have challenged last season's steals total had freshman Brynn-Jordan Smythe not suffered a head injury when she was batting .480 after earning a starting spot.
The Lopes did not lack for offense in its solidified lineup, which has progressed late in the conference season with senior third baseman Madison Schaefer healed from a midseason ankle injury and six Lopes starters hitting better than .300 this season.
"The conference is so much better overall, so every team can beat you for sure," said Hays, whose team won nine of its past 10 games. "Hopefully, we'll be locked in and focused. I can't see us not be. We want to stay loose and be aggressive at the same time."
GCU did not win the WAC Tournament the last time it hosted in 2019 but is a striking 29-6 at home this season. When they are not winning off its power, speed and contact, the Lopes pitchers lead the WAC with a 2.34 ERA and have not allowed an earned run in four consecutive games.
Nevertheless, the Lopes are grounded by being the No. 2 seed to No. 1 seed Utah Tech, which GCU went 2-1 against in an April home series. The players' weekly goals meetings sharpened with clarity for the week that can extend their season into an NCAA regional.
"As leaders, these girls are easy to lead," Koeltzow said. "Loving them well and getting on the field together is something we enjoy."
Â
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballNew Hardware Install | Softball
Friday, August 08
Alexis Soto | on her Christian Faith
Monday, July 07
Briah Williams | Christian Faith
Monday, July 07
Alexis Soto | Ephesians 3:20
Monday, July 07