Shutout sets MW record for best start at 11-0

Thursday, February 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-0

San Diego

5-5

San Diego

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

2/19/2026 8:21:00 PM | Softball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU's Batterton extends shutout streak to 26 innings; Lopes get Cooper HR, 3 Shifflett 3 hits

By: Paul Coro

The most fundamental winning formula that powered Grand Canyon to 47-8 last season has launched the Lopes to be the first Mountain West softball team ever to start a season at 11-0.

No runs allowed, no losses taken.

After posting 15 shutouts and the nation's No. 3 ERA last season, GCU recorded its fifth shutout Thursday night and improved the nation's second-best ERA to 0.96 by blanking San Diego 7-0 at GCU Softball Stadium. Despite losing MW Preseason Player of the Year Savannah Kirk to a season-ending knee injury, the Lopes are one of eight remaining undefeated teams in the nation. Only Florida (14-0) has more wins without a loss.

GCU senior Taryn Batterton (4-0) has the most innings pitched in the nation (26) without allowing a run this season after dealing 5 1/3 shutout innings against the Toreros (5-5). The 6-foot-3 right-hander struck out five and still has not allowed an extra-base hit this season after yielding two singles Thursday night.

"I think I've just matured a lot," said Batterton, who went 18-1 with a 2.14 ERA last season. "I just know myself as a pitcher now and how to slow down the game in my head when situations get rough or batters get on. When they get bigger hits, I just slow down the game in my head and do my thing. I know the defense has got my back."

The Lopes played error-less defense for the second consecutive game, including sophomore third baseman Ellie Pond diving in foul territory to snag a third-inning liner.

When Batterton left the game, she had only allowed one San Diego runner to reach second base and that occurred on a second out. Freshman right-hander Abi Jones closed the game with 1 2/3 shutout innings, keeping her season slate clean over 6 2/3 innings.

"Coach Hays is giving me a good amount of rest and relying on the younger pitchers in our staff," Batterton said. "I love that they get to get innings, and they're showing out right now. I feel good. I'm kind of itching for more innings, but I trust his process."

Batterton also has immediate support from her teammates, who had their biggest first inning since Opening Night. GCU pushed across three runs on two hits in the first inning, using the first of freshman right fielder Addison Shifflett's three hits to score the first run.

The score stayed at 3-0 until the fifth inning, when sophomore first baseman Jada Cooper crushed her first home run of the season over the center-field wall.

"The feel off the bat was amazing," said Cooper, who placed her hands in thankful prayer as she rounded the bases.

The Houston native belted 12 home runs last season but has hit well this season at .462 without clearing the fence. Cooper has drawn six walks and been hit by pitches twice to have a team-best .588 on-base percentage.

"Everyone's been waiting for me to hit one," Cooper said. "By this time last year, I had three or four. It felt good to come up clutch for my team. It's not always about the home runs. It's about consistently hitting and your time will eventually come."

Cooper's home run sparked GCU's four-run fifth inning when Shifflett and senior designated player Emily Gonzalez followed Cooper with consecutive no-out singles. One out later, junior pinch-hitter Alina Satcher smashed a three-run home run high onto the left-center field net for a 7-0 lead.

In just 19 at bats this season, Satcher has four home runs and 15 RBIs to send her OPS off the charts at 1.608.

Addison Shifflett

Shifflett, the freshman from Liberty Hill, Texas, made her sixth consecutive start and has delivered four multi-hit games in that stretch. She is hitting a team-best .500 after singling on 0-1 pitches three times Thursday.

"The team has really helped me get my confidence," Shifflett said. "I'm just thankful that I have amazing people and amazing coaches around me to support me throughout the way.

"My approach is to choose a pitch that I like. Hunter helps me a lot with approaches. Focusing on that one pitch and then when I get two strikes, I open up. But honestly staying confident and having fun the whole time helps with my at bats."

In Shanon Hays' fifth season at GCU, the Lopes now have the fourth-best winning percentage in the nation since 2022. At 194-50 (.795), only Oklahoma, IUCLA and Florida State have won more often over these five seasons.

GCU will try to continue this sizzling start Friday when the Lopes play Montana (4-6) at 5 p.m. and 2025 NCAA regional finalist North Florida (11-3) at 7:30 p.m. at GCU Softball Stadium.

"We're rolling," Batterton said. "Not everything has gone our way, but we've just kept on rolling with the punches and are finding ways to win. That shows a lot of our team's chemistry and how this team works. It's really cool, but we just want to keep going."