2025 Preview: GCU

All Grand Canyon has done since Shanon Hays arrived is win. The Lopes have gone 3-for-3 in postseason appearances under Hays. The GCU head coach has used the portal well and developed players like Kristin Fifield in All-Americans through the years. However, he’ll need to continue that as GCU’s roster graduated a lot of production this past year.

“It made the fall very important for us. We lost eight really good, experienced players. It’s been a little bit that with that turnover, but I think we did a good enough job recruiting freshmen and in the portal,” Hays said. “We tried to develop this team’s identity with the new kids coming in and see how we do things. We tried to establish who we are, I feel like things came in better than I thought it would because the kids did a good job coming together.”

GCU Roster Movement

Impact Losses

UTL Ashley Trierweiler
UTL Kristin Fifield
UTL Ramsay Lopez
INF Katelyn Dunckel
OF Kayla Rodgers
RHP Hailey Hudson
RHP Ariel Thompson

Transfer Additions

UTL Emily Gonzalez (Southern Utah)
OF Sydney McCray (Florida Southwestern State)
UTL Arriana Wright (San Jacinto)
RHP Maggie Place (Oklahoma Baptist)
RHP Taryn Batterton (McLennan CC)
OF Mia Weckel (Cal State Fullerton)

Freshman Class

UTL Macie Selfors
INF Briah Williams
INF Haley Wilkinson
RHP Lisa Liddell
INF Jada Cooper
UTL Laney Leavitt
LHP Oakley Vickers
UTL Willa Ford

GCU Newcomers

Hays believed that Emily Gonzalez was an overlooked name in the portal by others but he and his staff knew her well. The two-time All-WAC selection will help replace part of the graduated offensive production. She held a .376 batting average last season with 16 extra-base hits at Southern Utah.

The Lopes also welcome more talented JUCO transfers as they’ve done in the past. Hays expects Sydney McCray to hit two-hole in the lineup. The former NJCAA All-American comes in from Florida Southwestern State. She stole 51 bases last season, adding much-needed speed for GCU after Ashley Trierweiler’s graduation.

Maggie Place joins the team after a season at Oklahoma Baptist. Hays tried to land her directly out of high school but initially wanted to stay closer to home. However, a coaching change at Oklahoma Baptist helped change her mind. She’ll have a big role for the Lopes, who lost over 200 innings pitched from last season.

Place gained valuable experience after the summer, especially against DI talent. She won the Florida Gulf Coast League’s Pitcher of the Year and is coming off a 12-win season with Oklahoma Baptist.

The 2024 FGCL Pitcher of the Year…….
MAGGIE PLACE from @GCU_Softball! pic.twitter.com/y1MGMfKKoW

— Florida Gulf Coast League (@FGCLsoftball) July 9, 2024

“Anytime you go and throw anywhere with success it only helps your confidence,” Hays said. “She is a kid that hits her spots. She moves the ball as well as anybody I’ve ever had. There’s a good hard drop and she spins it side-to-side. She has a lot of weapons that spins like a bumblebee and she is so different than anything you see.”

Oakley Vickers is a talented left-handed pitcher who will have a role in the bullpen as a freshman.

Jada Cooper will be a big bat in the lineup. She offers a ton of power at the plate and will be in the heart of the order right away. The freshman from Houston will likely slot in either at first base or the designated player but she can also catch if needed. Hays said she had a great fall and was very athletic.

GCU Returners

Savannah Kirk and Tinley Lucas are integral parts coming back after their freshman seasons. Kirk, the WAC Freshman of the Year, is more the speed and on-base player that helps the power hitters collect a massive amount of RBIs. Her .389 batting average was second on the team last season and she also stole 19 bases. Hays said they’re also expecting Lucas to be a middle-of-the-order bat this season.

Makaiya Gomez is another key returner in the lineup. She finished the year with 15 doubles, four triples, three homers and 34 RBIs. Hays said she had a minor core injury that kept her out most of the fall. He feels like the lineup will be pretty complete as long as she returns healthy.

We will see more of Mackenzie Nolan this season. She’s a talented player who swings it from the left side. She was essentially the shortstop in waiting last season as Katelyn Dunckel finished her career as a five-year starter. Nolan was a big recruit for Hays as she also had Power Four interest. Nolan had a good fall and will be a key to the Lopes’ success this season.

Meghan Golden and Emily Darwin are the veterans of the pitching staff. Golden returns 104.1 innings from last season, the most on the roster. She had a team-best 2.15 ERA and .213 opposing batting average. Darwin has thrown 134.1 innings the past two seasons in more of a reliever-type role. Hays likes how the two pair with Place because the seniors are more power pitchers.

GCU Projected Lineup

C Tinley Lucas
1B Jada Cooper
2B Savannah Kirk
SS Mackenzie Nolan
3B Lovey Kepa’a
LF Sydney McCray
CF Makaiya Gomez
RF Emily Gonzalez
DP TBD

Editor’s Note: These projections are predictions based on previous positions and conversations with coaches. This is a gentle reminder that a lot can change between now and February.

Lovey Kepa’a started 48 games last season, mostly at third base. She could certainly be pushed by a newcomer. Depending on Cooper’s primary position, first base or designated player could also be open for the taking.