GSAC Regular Season Champs!!!

4/23/2026 11:56:00 PM

By: Tim Gooszen

Prescott, Ariz.- With a sweep of Thursday's double header against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, Arizona Christian became the 2026 GSAC Regular Season Champions.  They stake claim to the regular season championship for the first time since 2016.  A big offensive inning in both games turned both matchups into mercy rule events.

Game Info
  • Game one score: Arizona Christian - 9, Embry-Riddle - 1 (6 inn)
  • Game two score: Arizona Christian - 11, Embry-Riddle - 2 (5 inn)
  • Records: Arizona Christian - 33-10, 19-3 GSAC, Embry-Riddle - 27-18, 12-9 GSAC
  • Location: Eagle Softball Field, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ

ACU Game One Stats
  • Dayna Herrera - 4-4, 2B, 3 RBI
  • Rachel Martin - 1-2, 2 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI
  • Sierra Lauko - 1-1, 2B, RBI
  • Ashley Madonia - 2B, 2 RBI
  • Brittany McCracken - 2B, RBI
  • Alyssa Grinstead - CG win, 5 K

Inside Game One
  • Herrera doubled home Martin to begin the scoring
  • ERAU answered with their lone run in the bottom of the first
  • The Eagles had runners on base the rest of the game including the bases loaded twice
  • But Grinstead stranded 12 Eagles and did not allow another run
  • Herrera drove in two more in the third for a 3-1
  • Score remained the same until the sixth when ACU plated plated six runs on six hits
  • McCracken doubled in pinch runner Bea Barrett
  • Madonia doubled home Nadia Landeros and McCracken
  • Martin cashed in two before Lauko capped the scoring with a double
  • With the result of the OUAZ games, the Firestorm locked the GSAC championship with the game one win 

ACU Game Two Stats
  • Herrera - 1-2, 2 RBI, CG win
  • Morgan Bradford - 2-3, 2B, RBI
  • Martin - 2-3, 2 runs
  • Elena Garcia - 2-2, 2 runs, RBI
  • Lauko - 2 RBI
  • Christian Grubb - RBI
  • McCracken - RBI
  • Landeros - RBI
  • Glory Estabrook - RBI
  • McKenna Miller - RBI

Inside Game Two
  • The Firestorm got started again in the first with an RBI single from Grubb
  • A three run third was highlighted by RBIs from Garcia, Herrera, and McCracken for a 4-0 edge
  • ERAU found the scoreboard with a run in the third
  • In the fifth, the ACU offense exploded again for seven runs on just four hits and only one extra base hit
  • Estabrook RBI single, Landeros RBI single, Bradford RBI double plated the first three runs
  • Lauko drove in two, Herrera had RBI, and Miller walked to cash in the final run
  • Herrera was very economical as she is only listed with throwing 51 pitches in a five inning complete game

Thoughts from Coach Mayben
"Great start to this conference series. Proud of how we approached all three phases of the game today. Made the adjustments on offense and had timely hitting, Alyssa and Dayna both had strong outings against one of the best offenses in the conference, and we played solid defense ending numerous rally attempts by Embry in both games."

Up Next
The Firestorm and Eagles will clash again on Friday with the same start of 3pm up in Prescott.