Batterton leads Lopes to 5-0 opening weekend

Sunday, February 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

5-0

Santa Clara

3-2

Santa Clara

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd

2/8/2026 1:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GCU senior right-hander throws her 2nd consecutive complete-game shutout

By: Braden Dohrmann

Grand Canyon pitched its way to a 5-0 opening weekend at GCU Softball Stadium, capping it with a 1-0 Sunday win over Santa Clara behind its horse Taryn Batterton.

The Lopes senior right-hander started the season with two complete-game shutouts against 2025 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, winning Sunday to follow up her opening-night victory against Weber State on Friday.

Once again, the Lopes offense was stifled for most of the game, unable to get more than a run across the plate against Santa Clara's Cari Ferguson.

The run came early, however, giving Batterton some breathing room to do her thing in the top half of each inning. In the second inning, junior catcher Tinley Lucas placed a double down the left-field line with two outs. Lucas is hitting a team-best .444 with a .500 on-base percentage in four starts on opening weekend.

Lopes junior shortstop Mackenzie Nolan came through as she did multiple times on the weekend, delivering a sharp base hit up the middle to score Lucas from second. Nolan is batting .400 with a home run and three RBI through five games.

That run would be all the Lopes needed, as Batterton dominated in the circle from start to finish. Batterton struck out 10 batters, her career high and the first 10-strikeout performance by a GCU pitcher since Meghan Golden in 2024.

"I feel confident out there, there is no doubt about it," said Batterton, who had also set a career high Friday with eight strikeouts. "Not getting to play in the fall was super frustrating, so to get back out there and have success feels amazing. I did not really feel any pressure to perform, I knew the offense would pick up and I will always trust my defense to have my back."

In her 14 innings pitched this weekend, Batterton posted a 0.00 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, .120 opponent batting average, 18 strikeouts and just two walks. The senior from Latta, Oklahoma, completed the feat Sunday despite three GCU errors, getting the Lopes out of multiple jams on the basepaths.

Baterton struck out a batter in each inning, getting her third out via punch out in three of the seven innings.

The Lopes will take their undefeated record into another home tournament next weekend, as they host the GCU Invite. Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, South Dakota and Harvard come to town.

"We have a lot of young girls doing new things," Batterton said. "We are figuring out who we are without Savannah (Kirk), and have that next-man up mentality. I know we have what it takes to be a great team, and I am excited to see how we progress into next weekend."