2024 WAC Softball Release - Week One
THE 2024 SOFTBALL SEASON IS HERE!
The 2024 softball season will start on Thursday, Feb. 8 with nonconference games across the nation. Four WAC teams will take part in the season’s official opening day.
GRAND CANYON CHOSEN AS PRESEASON FAVORITE IN WAC COACHES POLL
Grand Canyon, the defending WAC tournament champion, claimed eight first-place votes and 80 voting points to finish ahead of Utah Tech (one first-place vote, 69 voting points). Seattle U (one first-place vote, 66 voting points), Stephen F. Austin (53 points) and Tarleton State (50 points) rounded out the top five teams in the coaches poll.
GRAND CANYON’S KRISTIN FIFIELD NAMED WAC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Grand Canyon’s graduate student utility player
Kristin Fifield was named the 2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Fifield led the nation with 85 RBIs during the 2023 season. She led the WAC with 21 home runs, six sac flies and 151 total bases. She was second in the conference with a .803 slugging percentage and 56 runs scored. Fifield was a part of the 2023 WAC All-Tournament Team and earned First Team All-WAC and All-Defensive Team honors last season.
GRAND CANYON’S GOLDEN, SEATTLE U’S MADRIGAL SELECTED AS WAC PRESEASON PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Grand Canyon’s
Meghan Golden and Seattle U’s
Stefanie Madrigal were named the 2024 WAC Preseason Pitchers of the Year. Golden, a junior and 2023 First Team All-WAC member, was 14-3 on the season for the Lopes with a conference leading 2.06 ERA, seven complete games and two shutouts. She led the conference in strikeouts (117), opposing batting average (.201) and strikeouts per game (8.92). Madrigal, a senior, made 28 starts for the Redhawks, appearing in 36 games and threw 17 complete games with five shutouts and three saves. She finished the 2023 season leading the WAC with 19 wins in 186.2 innings. Overall, she had an ERA of 3.11 and 66 strikeouts. Madrigal was also a WAC All-Tournament team member last season.
UTAH VALLEY GEARING UP FOR RANKED OPPONENTS
Key matchups featuring Utah Valley will include three ranked opponents this week. Utah Valley will first play against No. 1 Oklahoma on opening day, then compete against No. 10 Washington on Feb. 9. On Feb 10, the Wolverines will wrap up the week against No. 17 Nebraska.