Completed Event: Softball at San Diego State on April 17, 2026 , Win , 12, to, 3 , (5 inn.)
Softball
at San Diego State
W 12-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes well represented on All-Mountain West
5/6/2026 9:00:00 AM | Softball
Hays wins Coach of the Year, McCray Defensive POY
Grand Canyon received plenty of recognition in Mountain West postseason awards after winning the MW regular-season title in the program's first season in the conference.
Lopes head coach Shanon Hays was selected as MW Coach of the Year, his fourth conference Coach of the Year award in his five years at GCU. Lopes senior center fielder Sydney McCray was voted as the MW Defensive Player of the Year, while seven Lopes received All-MW honors from the 48-7 GCU team that sits at No. 29 in the national RPI rankings heading into the postseason.
Hays did not slow down in 2026, despite the conference upgrade. After four WAC seasons consisting of three regular-season titles, four WAC Tournament titles and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Hays and the Lopes moved to the nation's seventh-best RPI conference in the Mountain West.
Hays guided GCU to a 21-4 record this season in MW play, sweeping six series, winning every road series and taking the regula- season title by three games despite the uptick in competition from top to bottom. Hays has led four consecutive teams to 47 wins or more and achieved everything this season without MW Preseason Player of the Year Savannah Kirk, who suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks before the season began.
McCray, a native of Sarasota, Florida and daughter of MLB player Rodney 'Flash" McCray, displayed her defensive prowess at the highest of levels this season, winning Defensive Player of the Year with a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field.
From diving catches to plays at and into the wall, McCray was a true black hole when the ball was hit in the air anywhere near center field. McCray added three outfield assists, including a double play thanks to her big arm. McCray's speed also translated at the plate and on the basepaths. Leading off all 55 regular-season games, McCray not only led the team with 64 hits, but reached base at a .486 clip.
McCray stole 34 bases, the fifth most in the nation and the most without being caught.
McCray was one of four Lopes on the All-MW first team, along with sophomores Jada Cooper and Natalie Fritz, as well as graduate Trinity Martin.
Cooper is a first team all-conference player for the second time in as many seasons, shattering many records in the middle of the Lopes' lineup all season.
After having one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Cooper is having another career year at the plate and as a first baseman. Cooper leads GCU in batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.556) and slugging percentage (.742). She is tied for a team-best 14 home runs and has driven in 57 runs. The Houston native has done all this while drawing 45 walks, a program single-season record, and being hit by pitches nine times.
The sophomore has the third-most home runs in GCU's Division I era, smacking 26 homers in her first two seasons. Cooper won MW Player of the Week twice, including the final week of the regular season.
Fritz has put up dazzling numbers in the circle for GCU, especially in conference play when it mattered most. The sophomore transfer from New Mexico built on two MW Freshman of the Week awards in 100 innings of work with the Lobos in 2025 and turned it into a 1.61 ERA, 13th best in the natoin, in 2026 at Grand Canyon.
The right-handerr from Chandler, Arizona, went 9-0 with one complete game and 4-0 in eight Mountain West starts. In 31 innings during conference play, Fritz allowed just six earned runs, while striking out 25 batters and walking only three. Fritz is the ERA leader for GCU's star-studded pitching staff that ranks ninth in the country in ERA and WHIP.
Martin, who joined Grand Canyon for her final collegiate season after three years at Virginia Tech, may have started slower at the plate than she hoped but went on an absolute power surge in conference play to lead the Lopes to the conference title.
The native of Nathalie, Virgnia, started 54 games in left field, hammering 14 home runs, tied for the team high with Cooper. The graduate drove in 49 runs with a .636 slugging percentage. Martin has been a mainstay in the middle of GCU's lineup, hitting clean-up over the past few weekends.
Martin hit 10 homers in conference play to rank second in the Mountain West. During the San José State series, Martin reached base in her first nine at bats with four home runs.Â
Junior catcher Tinley Lucas, sophomore pitcher Oakley Vickers and freshman pitcher Abi Jones made the All-MW second team after stellar seasons.
Lucas played a pivotal role in GCU's success this season, starting 43 games at catcher for the high-achieving Lopes pitching staff. Alongside Lucas' elite play behind the plate, the junior took her bat to another level in 2026, especially in conference play with .380 hitting.
Lucas hit .311 in the regular season with eight home runs and 27 RBIs. Tinley hammered six of her eight long balls in Mountain West games, reaching base at a .500 clip. Lucas has the team's second-best average and slugging percentage in Mountain West games.
The native of Washington, Oklahoma, has earned all-conference honors in back-to-back years after making the WAC All-Defensive Team last season.
Vickers made the All-MW second team thanks to a successful regular season as a starter and a reliever for the GCU pitching staff.
Vickers, a native of Tuttle, Oklahoma, pitched a team-high 95 innings in the regular season. She went 13-4 on the season, earning the most wins on the staff. Vickers also leads the team in saves, accruing four to tie the program single-season record.
Vickers appeared in all eight top-75 matchups this season, pitching many of the season's most important innings. She holds a 2.28 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP, striking out 105 batters.
Jones stepped on the scene and impacted the GCU pitching staff early and often, quickly becoming GCU's go-to relief pitcher.
Jones appeared in 33 games this year, with all but one coming as a reliever. The freshman right-hander from Salinas, California, is 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA this season.
Jones really came on the scene in Week 5 in the San Diego Classic, appearing in all five games and going 2-0. She won MW Freshman of the Week in Week 8, when she went 2-0 again in the Utah State series.
Senior designated player Emily Gonzalez was named as an all-conference honorable mention. Gonzalez has hit 12 home runs this season, hitting three in the final weekend of the season, and has added a team-high 12 doubles.
The native of Yucapai, California, has received conference postseason accolades in all four of her college seasons after being named to All-WAC first team twice. Gonzalez ranks 44th among all active Division I players for career total bases (356).
GCU will make its Mountain West Championship debut Thursday in Reno, Nevada, at 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) against the Wednesday winner of fourth-seeded New Mexico vs. fifth-seeded Fresno State.
Lopes head coach Shanon Hays was selected as MW Coach of the Year, his fourth conference Coach of the Year award in his five years at GCU. Lopes senior center fielder Sydney McCray was voted as the MW Defensive Player of the Year, while seven Lopes received All-MW honors from the 48-7 GCU team that sits at No. 29 in the national RPI rankings heading into the postseason.
Hays did not slow down in 2026, despite the conference upgrade. After four WAC seasons consisting of three regular-season titles, four WAC Tournament titles and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Hays and the Lopes moved to the nation's seventh-best RPI conference in the Mountain West.
Hays guided GCU to a 21-4 record this season in MW play, sweeping six series, winning every road series and taking the regula- season title by three games despite the uptick in competition from top to bottom. Hays has led four consecutive teams to 47 wins or more and achieved everything this season without MW Preseason Player of the Year Savannah Kirk, who suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks before the season began.
McCray, a native of Sarasota, Florida and daughter of MLB player Rodney 'Flash" McCray, displayed her defensive prowess at the highest of levels this season, winning Defensive Player of the Year with a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field.
From diving catches to plays at and into the wall, McCray was a true black hole when the ball was hit in the air anywhere near center field. McCray added three outfield assists, including a double play thanks to her big arm. McCray's speed also translated at the plate and on the basepaths. Leading off all 55 regular-season games, McCray not only led the team with 64 hits, but reached base at a .486 clip.
McCray stole 34 bases, the fifth most in the nation and the most without being caught.
McCray was one of four Lopes on the All-MW first team, along with sophomores Jada Cooper and Natalie Fritz, as well as graduate Trinity Martin.
Cooper is a first team all-conference player for the second time in as many seasons, shattering many records in the middle of the Lopes' lineup all season.
After having one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Cooper is having another career year at the plate and as a first baseman. Cooper leads GCU in batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.556) and slugging percentage (.742). She is tied for a team-best 14 home runs and has driven in 57 runs. The Houston native has done all this while drawing 45 walks, a program single-season record, and being hit by pitches nine times.
The sophomore has the third-most home runs in GCU's Division I era, smacking 26 homers in her first two seasons. Cooper won MW Player of the Week twice, including the final week of the regular season.
Fritz has put up dazzling numbers in the circle for GCU, especially in conference play when it mattered most. The sophomore transfer from New Mexico built on two MW Freshman of the Week awards in 100 innings of work with the Lobos in 2025 and turned it into a 1.61 ERA, 13th best in the natoin, in 2026 at Grand Canyon.
The right-handerr from Chandler, Arizona, went 9-0 with one complete game and 4-0 in eight Mountain West starts. In 31 innings during conference play, Fritz allowed just six earned runs, while striking out 25 batters and walking only three. Fritz is the ERA leader for GCU's star-studded pitching staff that ranks ninth in the country in ERA and WHIP.
Martin, who joined Grand Canyon for her final collegiate season after three years at Virginia Tech, may have started slower at the plate than she hoped but went on an absolute power surge in conference play to lead the Lopes to the conference title.
The native of Nathalie, Virgnia, started 54 games in left field, hammering 14 home runs, tied for the team high with Cooper. The graduate drove in 49 runs with a .636 slugging percentage. Martin has been a mainstay in the middle of GCU's lineup, hitting clean-up over the past few weekends.
Martin hit 10 homers in conference play to rank second in the Mountain West. During the San José State series, Martin reached base in her first nine at bats with four home runs.Â
Junior catcher Tinley Lucas, sophomore pitcher Oakley Vickers and freshman pitcher Abi Jones made the All-MW second team after stellar seasons.
Lucas played a pivotal role in GCU's success this season, starting 43 games at catcher for the high-achieving Lopes pitching staff. Alongside Lucas' elite play behind the plate, the junior took her bat to another level in 2026, especially in conference play with .380 hitting.
Lucas hit .311 in the regular season with eight home runs and 27 RBIs. Tinley hammered six of her eight long balls in Mountain West games, reaching base at a .500 clip. Lucas has the team's second-best average and slugging percentage in Mountain West games.
The native of Washington, Oklahoma, has earned all-conference honors in back-to-back years after making the WAC All-Defensive Team last season.
Vickers made the All-MW second team thanks to a successful regular season as a starter and a reliever for the GCU pitching staff.
Vickers, a native of Tuttle, Oklahoma, pitched a team-high 95 innings in the regular season. She went 13-4 on the season, earning the most wins on the staff. Vickers also leads the team in saves, accruing four to tie the program single-season record.
Vickers appeared in all eight top-75 matchups this season, pitching many of the season's most important innings. She holds a 2.28 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP, striking out 105 batters.
Jones stepped on the scene and impacted the GCU pitching staff early and often, quickly becoming GCU's go-to relief pitcher.
Jones appeared in 33 games this year, with all but one coming as a reliever. The freshman right-hander from Salinas, California, is 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA this season.
Jones really came on the scene in Week 5 in the San Diego Classic, appearing in all five games and going 2-0. She won MW Freshman of the Week in Week 8, when she went 2-0 again in the Utah State series.
Senior designated player Emily Gonzalez was named as an all-conference honorable mention. Gonzalez has hit 12 home runs this season, hitting three in the final weekend of the season, and has added a team-high 12 doubles.
The native of Yucapai, California, has received conference postseason accolades in all four of her college seasons after being named to All-WAC first team twice. Gonzalez ranks 44th among all active Division I players for career total bases (356).
GCU will make its Mountain West Championship debut Thursday in Reno, Nevada, at 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) against the Wednesday winner of fourth-seeded New Mexico vs. fifth-seeded Fresno State.
2026 All-Mountain West
FIRST TEAM- Kate Penberthy, Jr., INF, Boise State
- Lauryn Carranco, Sr., P, Fresno State
- Jada Cooper, So., UTL, Grand Canyon
- Natalie Fritz, So., P, Grand Canyon
- Trinity Martin, Gr., OF, Grand Canyon
- Sydney McCray, Sr., OF, Grand Canyon
- Madison Clark, Jr., INF, Nevada
- Hannah Di Genova, Sr., INF, Nevada
- Katelyn Wetteland, Fr., INF, Nevada
- Miracle McKenzie, So., INF, New Mexico
- DeNae Vasquez-Dickson, Jr., OF, New Mexico
- Kaila Pollard, Jr., INF, San Diego State
- Reina Zermeno, Sr., INF/UTL, Â San José State
- Lauren Fettic, Fr., P, UNLV
- Keyannah Chavez, Sr., OF, UNLV
SECOND TEAM
- Madi Eslinger, Fr., C/INF, Colorado State
- Reagan Wick, Jr., P, Colorado State
- Jailey Wilson, Jr., INF, Colorado State
- Jamie Hicks, Sr., INF, Fresno State
- Emma Martinez, Sr., INF, Fresno State
- Abi Jones, Fr., P, Grand Canyon
- Tinley Lucas, Jr., C, Grand Canyon
- Oakley Vickers, So., P, Grand Canyon
- Tess Bumiller, Sr., P, Nevada
- Haylee Engelbrecht, Sr., INF, Nevada
- Jade Ignacio, Sr., C, San Diego State
- Ahmiya Noriega, Sr., INF, San José State
- Diamond Sefe, Sr., UTL, UNLV
- Mantha Hatzenbeller, So., OF, UNLV
- Kya Pratt, Sr., OF, Utah State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Hannah Di Genova, Sr., INF, Nevada
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
- Lauren Fettic, Fr., UNLV
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Sydney McCray, Sr., OF, Grand Canyon
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
- Katelyn Wetteland, INF, Nevada
COACH OF THE YEAR
- Shanon Hays, Grand Canyon
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ SoftballSydney McCray Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Emily Gonzalez Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Jada Cooper Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04
Natalie Fritz Media Availability | 5.4.26
Monday, May 04