Grand Canyon University (GCU) capped off their weekend with a solid 4-0 victory over Eastern Illinois. This win boosted the Lopes to an impressive 22-0 record, making them the only team in the country without a loss.
The game featured a “pitcher-by-committee” strategy. GCU’s pitchers combined to throw seven innings, allowing just four hits. Freshman Abi Jones made her debut, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up only one hit. Oakley Vickers stepped in next, earning her seventh win of the season after striking out three batters over three innings. Taryn Batterton closed the game, securing her first save.
Head coach Shanon Hays explained, “We wanted each girl to get some innings and to test different matchups for future games.” This approach seems wise, as GCU’s pitching staff had the third-best ERA in the nation coming into the weekend. With four shutouts in just six games, their performance should only improve their overall stats.
Offensively, GCU collected seven hits with standout performances from shortstop Haley Wilkinson and senior Emily Gonzalez, both contributing two hits. Wilkinson celebrated her 20th birthday by hitting a double that brought in the game’s first run. Raegan Holtorf then added another run with a two-out double down the line.
Gonzalez later drove in two more runs with a clutch hit in the sixth inning. With these performances, she pushed her season total to 16 RBIs.
GCU is now one of three teams in the nation still undefeated after four weeks. North Carolina lost a match against Boston College, leaving GCU, top-ranked Tennessee, and seventh-ranked Alabama as the remaining perfect teams.
Next weekend, the Lopes will hit the road for five games in San Diego, where they’ll face Notre Dame twice, along with Princeton, San Diego, and Wisconsin. Hays noted that this young team needs to prove themselves away from home.
As they wait for national rankings to update on Tuesday, the Lopes hope their consistent performance will earn them higher recognition.
For more details on college softball rankings, check out NCAA Softball Rankings.
