GCU softball’s 33-2 start highlights dominance under coach Shanon Hays

PHOENIX – So much for the glitter in the hair. It was one of those playful jokes; something a team does after starting the season 30-0. 

Grand Canyon University’s softball team had four consecutive Western Athletic Conference championships and a No. 23 national ranking. There was pressure to keep the undefeated streak alive, but the players tried to tune it out by having fun and making bets over who would have to add shimmer to their heads.  

The Lopes’ foundation for dominating and winning runs deep. Despite losing their first game of the season to nationally ranked Oklahoma State on March 17, the Lopes rebounded by winning three straight games before falling to No. 13 Arizona on Tuesday for GCU’s second loss of the year. 

It’s a trend GCU fans know well. At 33-2 heading into this weekend’s three-game series at Utah State in their new conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Lopes have constantly improved their program while producing award-winning players for the past three years.

Shanon Hays has been the coach for GCU softball team since 2021 and is known for rebuilding multiple record-breaking teams. Before coming to GCU, he was the head coach at Texas Tech (2010-2014), where he remains the winningest softball coach in the school’s history (186). He also coached at Oklahoma Christian (2019–2021) and Colorado Christian (2017–2018).

Hays credits his players for his sparkling record.

“Everywhere I’ve been, you know that you have to have a strong roster to have success…you know talent, work ethic, and having the right pieces,” he said. “In softball, it starts with good pitching. So just going after good recruits and trying to bring in kids who we thought would fit in well here at Grand Canyon and want to compete and build a program along with our coaches.” 

Multiple players on the Lopes roster are hitting .300 or above, enabling them to score in many ways. This makes them a constant threat while keeping opposing defenses under pressure. 

Senior outfielder Sydney McCray has been a major key player on this year’s team and sets the tone with her ability on the basepaths. 

“I use my speed to do the talking,” McCray said. “In any way I could help my team … I’ll let them do all the heavy hitting because once I get on base it tends to stress out other teams and cause chaos.”

McCray, in her second season at GCU, finished with the second-most stolen bases on the team as a junior (17) and a stat line that included a .326 batting average, .386 OBP and 36 runs. She has only gotten better this season, improving to a .346 average, .457 OBP with 40 runs and 20 stolen bases. 

McCray’s goal is to enjoy the season as much as she can while being a senior and embracing her inner child who once fell in love with the game.  

“As a team we all like to have fun and compete while embracing our inner child,” McCray said. “I think that is something that has kept us very successful.”

The Lopes faced their first ranked team this season in Oklahoma State, falling short by five runs in that home game on St. Patrick’s Day. The Lopes led 3-0 in the third inning before the Cowgirls went on a dominating run, scoring four runs in the fourth inning, three in the sixth and seventh innings. 

GCU tacked on two runs in the seventh inning but could get no closer in a 10-5 loss.  But the Lopes didn’t view that game as a defeat as much as a learning opportunity; a chance to see which areas they need to tweak and what to do the next time they face a ranked opponent. 

Part of that growth is on an individual level, and McCray’s presence isn’t the only one turning heads.

Sophomore utility player Jada Cooper is a versatile offensive and defensive problem for opponents. Cooper is the heavy hitter for this year’s team with a GCU-high nine home runs (outfielder Trinity Martin has eight).  

Cooper set the bar high as a freshman last year, finishing with a .364 batting average, 12 home runs, a .486 OBP, and a .686 slugging percentage, making her the first freshman to lead the Lopes in home runs. She also was listed among the National Fastpitch Coaches Association freshman of the year top 25. Her plan is always to send the ball as far as possible, but the priority is driving in runs. 

“ I feel like I’ll be confident to swing for the fences, but for the most part, I’m in a situation to score runners, so I try my best to get them in as much as possible,” Cooper said.

Despite the loss to Oklahoma State that halted GCU’s 30-0 unbeaten streak, Hays said he reminds the Lopes all the time that a loss doesn’t define the team. They ignored the pressure and took the opportunity to have fun with it instead. 

“We made bets with some of our equipment staff, like, ‘Oh if we go undefeated you have to put glitter in your hair,’” said McCray, who believes the team hasn’t reached its full potential yet. 

“It wasn’t really more pressure, but more fun.”

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