Ranked Lopes seek to continue historic start - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Thursday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Minnesota

Buy Tickets

Photo by: Jayden Todd

2/26/2026 9:30:00 AM | Softball

6-pack of games at GCU Softball Stadium highlighted by 11-3 Wisconsin

By: Braden Dohrmann

GCU / ASU Classic \| Feb. 16- Mar. 1, 2026 \| GCU Softball Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (16-0)	vs.	MINNESOTA GOPHERS (6-9)
			CSU BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (2-13)
			WISCONSIN BADGERS (11-3)
			EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS (4-11)
			UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS (1-8)

Grand Canyon hosts five teams in its final home tournament of the season, looking to continue its undefeated start that put the Lopes the national top 25.

HEADLINES

GCU went 6-0 in the Purple Classic in Week 3, beating North Florida and three other teams to move to 16-0.
The Lopes are unanimously ranked in the Top 25 across major softball polls. (No. 25 in ESPN/USA Softball, No. 23 in Softball America and D1Softball, No. 22 in National Fastpitch Coaches Association).
Grand Canyon has won 25 consecutive games at GCU Softball Stadium, winning 40 of its last 42 games dating back to last season.
Senior utility player Emily Gonzalez took home Mountain West Player of the Week for Week 3, hitting .625 from Thursday to Sunday, including three home runs and four consecutive multi-hit games.
The Lopes are one of five teams in the nation with an undefeated record. Three of the five are ranked in the top 10.
Head coach Shanon Hays is one win away from 200 wins at Grand Canyon in just his fifth season.
GCU scored five or more runs in one inning in five of its six games in the Purple Classic.
Freshman outfielder Addison Shifflett took home Mountain West Freshman of the Week for Week 2, hitting her first collegiate home run and leading the team in hits (seven) for the event.
Senior right-hander Taryn Batterton allowed her first runs of the season, breaking a nation-leading streak of 28 scoreless innings to start the season.
Opening Night vs. Weber State marked the fifth-highest attended game in GCU Softball Stadium history (1,252).
GCU holds the third-best ERA in the nation after Week 3 (1.10).
GCU crossed 700 wins all-time as a program last week in its win over South Dakota.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

Minnesota is 6-9 coming off two consecutive losses last weekend at their indoor tournament in Minneapolis.
GCU and Minnesota are 1-1 all-time, with both games taking place at GCU Softball Stadium.

SCOUTING CSU BAKERSFIELD

The Roadrunners enter the weekend with a 2-13 record, coming off a win over Weber State, which the Lopes beat in week one.
GCU is 23-12 all-time against Bakersfield, as the two teams used to compete in the WAC years ago.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN

The Badgers enter with an 11-3 record. Wisconsin went 4-1 last weekend in Fort Myers, Florida, with their one loss coming at to Louisville.
GCU and Wisconsin have played one time prior to this matchup. The Lopes beat the Badgers on Opening Day in 2024 at GCU Softball Stadium.

SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS

The Panthers enter with a 4-11 record, going 0-5 last weekend at the FIU Softball Classic. They play four games against ranked Arizona softball schools this weekend.
GCU and Eastern Illinois have played twice previous to this matchup, with the Lopes winning both on neutral ground.

SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE

The Highlanders enter the weekend at 1-8 after going winless at the Mary Nutter Classic last weekend.
GCU and UC Riverside have split the all-time series at 1-1 with GCU winning in Riverside last season.

LAST TIME OUT

PURPLE CLASSIC

The Lopes shut out their opponent in four of the six games in the Purple Classic.
Grand Canyon senior Emily Gonzalez smacked two home runs in GCU's win over mid-major powerhouse North Florida.
Lopes sophomore utility Jada Cooper hit four home runs over the four-day event.