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Hays releases GCU softball schedule
12/9/2024 1:00:00 PM | Softball
Challenging nonconference slate looms for new-look Lopes
Grand Canyon softball head coach Shanon Hays released a 2025 schedule stocked with 37 home games and four top-30 visitors.Â
The Lopes will search for their fourth consecutive WAC Tournament championship and NCAA tournament bid in their 2025 campaign. In three years at GCU, Hays' teams have gone 136-42 (.764) to put the program on the national stage.
The 2025 schedule will certainly test GCU in the nonconference portion before the team goes for one final WAC title in their last season in the conference. Four teams that finished in last season's RPI top 30 will take on the Lopes at GCU Softball Stadium, including last season's No. 3, Florida. Oregon, Washington and Arizona are also top-30 teams that will visit Phoenix in the spring.
"This schedule is obviously going to be a tough test for such a new group," Hays said. "I think it will be really good for our RPI and also should prepare us well for conference play. Some big names will be coming to Phoenix, and hopefully our fans will get to see some great softball."
Per usual, teams are flocking to Arizona in the months of February and March due to the great softball weather each season. The first five weekends of the season will consist of tournaments hosted at GCU Softball Stadium.Â
The first and fifth weekends will be hosted purely by GCU, while the Lopes will co-host with Arizona State in the second, third and fourth weekends. The first 24 games on the schedule will be played at GCU, packing in plenty of softball for fans from Feb. 6's Opening Day until March 9, the final day of the Purple Classic.
"I definitely like being able to play so many home games," Hays said. "Having great weather at our home field and playing at home consistently, is something we sell to our recruits yearly."
While the two teams will not meet during the early-season tournaments, GCU and ASU will play home-and-home midweek matchups Feb. 18 at GCU Softball Stadium and April 15 at ASU. The crosstown rivals had never met until 2021 and have split the series 2-2. Each team won at home last season.
Other notable dates and opponents include a March 1 rematch with Oregon State and a March 2 game against UTEP, where former Lopes ace Ariel Thompson is a first-year pitching coach on March 2.
The WAC Tournament will take place May 7-10 in Riverside, California, home of California Baptist. GCUÂ will be in Riverside for the regular season series between the two teams in late March. The Lopes beat CBU in the WAC Tournament championship last season to punch their ticket to the NCAA Regionals.
"I am very hopeful that this new group can continue to build on what's been done here the past three years," Hays said. "It is tough when you lose great leaders that have developed this program. We are excited for that very challenge to continue this success we have had."
Opening Day will be here before you know it, when Northern Illinois comes to GCU for a Feb. 6 doubleheader. The games will be played at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The games will "kick off" the Kick Off Classic at GCU Softball Stadium.
For the entire 53-game schedule, click here.
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The Lopes will search for their fourth consecutive WAC Tournament championship and NCAA tournament bid in their 2025 campaign. In three years at GCU, Hays' teams have gone 136-42 (.764) to put the program on the national stage.
The 2025 schedule will certainly test GCU in the nonconference portion before the team goes for one final WAC title in their last season in the conference. Four teams that finished in last season's RPI top 30 will take on the Lopes at GCU Softball Stadium, including last season's No. 3, Florida. Oregon, Washington and Arizona are also top-30 teams that will visit Phoenix in the spring.
"This schedule is obviously going to be a tough test for such a new group," Hays said. "I think it will be really good for our RPI and also should prepare us well for conference play. Some big names will be coming to Phoenix, and hopefully our fans will get to see some great softball."Per usual, teams are flocking to Arizona in the months of February and March due to the great softball weather each season. The first five weekends of the season will consist of tournaments hosted at GCU Softball Stadium.Â
The first and fifth weekends will be hosted purely by GCU, while the Lopes will co-host with Arizona State in the second, third and fourth weekends. The first 24 games on the schedule will be played at GCU, packing in plenty of softball for fans from Feb. 6's Opening Day until March 9, the final day of the Purple Classic.
"I definitely like being able to play so many home games," Hays said. "Having great weather at our home field and playing at home consistently, is something we sell to our recruits yearly."
While the two teams will not meet during the early-season tournaments, GCU and ASU will play home-and-home midweek matchups Feb. 18 at GCU Softball Stadium and April 15 at ASU. The crosstown rivals had never met until 2021 and have split the series 2-2. Each team won at home last season.
Other notable dates and opponents include a March 1 rematch with Oregon State and a March 2 game against UTEP, where former Lopes ace Ariel Thompson is a first-year pitching coach on March 2.
The WAC Tournament will take place May 7-10 in Riverside, California, home of California Baptist. GCUÂ will be in Riverside for the regular season series between the two teams in late March. The Lopes beat CBU in the WAC Tournament championship last season to punch their ticket to the NCAA Regionals.
"I am very hopeful that this new group can continue to build on what's been done here the past three years," Hays said. "It is tough when you lose great leaders that have developed this program. We are excited for that very challenge to continue this success we have had."
Opening Day will be here before you know it, when Northern Illinois comes to GCU for a Feb. 6 doubleheader. The games will be played at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The games will "kick off" the Kick Off Classic at GCU Softball Stadium.
For the entire 53-game schedule, click here.
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