RENO, Nev. — Top-seeded Grand Canyon (52-8) defeated No. 3 seed Nevada (39-20) twice on Saturday to win the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Softball Championship. The Lopes took the first game of the day, 3-0, before recording an 11-10 (9 inn.) come-from-behind victory in the second and final game of the MW tournament.

The Lopes, who also earned the MW regular-season crown, has secured the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA softball championship. This is GCU’s fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

GAME 1:
No. 1 Grand Canyon earned a 3-0 victory over Nevada in the first game of Championship Saturday at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park in Reno on Saturday. GCU was led by pitcher Oakley Vickers, who pitched a complete game shutout, striking out six batters and allowing just five hits, forcing an “if-necessary” second game.

Nevada hadn’t scored fewer than 10 runs during its tournament run to the title game but couldn’t find success against Vickers.

At the plate, GCU got five hits and three runs, two of which came off the bat of Addison Shifflett.

GAME 2:
In the if-necessary game to decide the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Softball Champion, No. 1 Grand Canyon defeated Nevada in dramatic fashion, securing an 11-10 extra-innings victory on Saturday.

Nevada looked like they were going to run away with the championship, scoring nine runs before recording a single out in the top of the first inning. The Lopes maintained their composure, chipping into the Wolf Pack lead with two runs in the second inning, one in the fourth and three in the fifth.

Trailing 10-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning, GCU had two at bats that swung momentum in its favor. With the bases loaded, Tinley Lucas was walked, bringing home a run before Ellie Pond doubled to right center, emptying the bases and tying the title game at 10-10.

After a back-and-forth eighth inning, Lucas was called upon again, this time delivering a walk-off single to left center field and driving home the game-winning run.

Trinity Martin stood out for GCU with a notable performance, hitting a home run, driving in two runs, and scoring three times. Raegan Holtorf also contributed significantly, tallying two hits and scoring twice. In the pitching department, Taryn Battertondelivered four solid innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four batters. Addison Shifflett added power to the lineup with a home run and two RBIs. Ellie Pond drove in three runs with a double, further aiding the team’s offensive efforts.

Vickers entered in relief and pitched two scoreless innings, while striking out three batters. Vickers strong performance for the tournament earned her MVP honors.

Grand Canyon improved its record to 52-8, the most wins all-time in MW history and tied for the most wins nationally this season (Texas Tech).

The Lopes will wait to hear their name called on Sunday during the NCAA Selection Show at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The all-tournament team was announced on Saturday evening with two players earning a spot from New Mexico and UNLV, three from Nevada and four, including the tournament MVP, from Grand Canyon.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Tinley Lucas, Grand Canyon
Trinity Martin, Grand Canyon
Addison Shifflett, Grand Canyon
Oakley Vickers (MVP), Grand Canyon
Hannah Di Genova, Nevada
Haylee Engelbrecht, Nevada
Hailey McLean, Nevada
Caitlin Benningfield, New Mexico
Jessica DeLeon, New Mexico
Presley Barnes, UNLV
Natalie Turner, UNLV