OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Softball program continues to add former NCAA Division I talent to its coaching staff as Mariah Lopez makes her way to south Oklahoma City to serve as the team's new Assistant Coach heading into the 2025-26 academic year. Joining her former Utah Utes teammate in Eli Espinosa, Lopez will primarily serve as the program's pitching coach.
Lopez comes to MACU after spending the last season as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the University of Arkansas in 2024-25. In her lone season with the Razorbacks, Arkansas finished the regular season with a 44-14 overall record and qualified for the NCAA Super Regional. Lopez helped oversee a pitching staff that tossed the 10th-most shutouts (15) in the nation and ranked 18th in total strikeouts (347).
Before moving into a coaching role, Lopez completed an incredible four-year playing career at NCAA D-I Utah, where she wrapped up her Utes tenure with a 58-37 record and five saves while notching a 2.81 career ERA while striking out 582 batters and walking just 241 over 600.2 innings of work in the circle from 2021-24.
"Getting to coach alongside Coach Lopez is really special," remarked Espinosa. "We shared the field as teammates and I've seen her passion, drive, and leadership first hand. She was an All-American and and AUSL champion, so she understands what it takes to be great. Our pitchers are going to learn so much from her and I cannot wait to see her connect with all of our athletes! This is a huge step for the culture of our program."
Lopez was especially great in her final two seasons in Utah, earning All-Pac 12 First Team honors in 2023 and 2024 while being named an NFCA Third Team All-American following the 2023 campaign. During her All-American season, Lopez posted a 23-7 record in the circle with a 2.87 ERA and 206 strikeouts to 78 walks. She then followed it up in 2024 with a 22-12 record and a career-best ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (230).
Overall, Lopez closed out her illustrious Utes career with multiple marks in the UU record book, notching the program's third-most strikeouts (582) and fifth-most appearances (141).
"Getting to coach alongside Coach Eli is really special for me," stated Lopez. "I loved being her teammate at Utah. She was the kind of player who always showed up, led by example, and pushed everyone to be better. That same work ethic and competitiveness she had as a player are just as present in her coaching. She is going to make a big impact on our athletes and I know she is ready to take this program to the next level. Coach Eli is exactly the kind of leader and role model we need to build a strong, winning culture. I'm excited to watch her grow and help shape the future of this team."
In her final regular season game of the 2023 season, Lopez made history by becoming just the 30th Ute in the team's history to throw a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory at No. 13 Oregon in Eugene. Lopez was instrumental in leading the Utes to an appearance in the NCAA World Series played at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, making it just the fifth time Utah has made it all the way to the World Series tourney in program history.
On-top of being a tremendous collegiate pitcher, Lopez has taken her talents to the professional level as well, competing for the New York Rise in 2024 as well as the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) in 2025. During the 2024 season with the Rise, Lopez notched a 3-3 record in the circle with a 3.23 ERA over 30.1 innings of work. In 2025 with the AUSL, Lopez made nine appearances and tossed 12 innings.
Lopez will be spearheading a MACU pitching staff that has seen unprecedented success over the last five years. Since moving up to the NAIA level in 2008, the Evangels have notched the four lowest team ERAs within the last five years and will be returning some strong talent in All-SAC First Team honoree and Second Team NCCAA All-American Gia Reynosa. The Evangels wrapped up the 2025 campaign with a 32-22 overall record and narrowly missed winning the program's second NCCAA National Championship after falling 3-2 to Jessup (Calif.) in the championship game on May 21 in Grapevine, Texas.
