UNC Sweeps Portland State to Close Regular Season

Saturday, April 29

Greeley, Colo.

1 pm

University of Northern Colorado

21-20, 9-6

Portland State

15-25, 6-9

Portland State

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Jam David

4/29/2023 8:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. – For the first time this season, the Northern Colorado softball team completed the weekend sweep of a Big Sky opponent, defeating Portland State, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon in the third game of the weekend series.

The game marked the final contest of the 2023 regular-season campaign for the Bears, as UNC enters the postseason with a 9-6 record in Big Sky competition and a 21-20 overall record.

Unlike in the games in yesterday's doubleheader, the Bears took the lead first in the contest, scoring two quick runs in the first inning. Portland State then added a solo run in the top of the third, but UNC added two runs in the third and one more in the fourth to extend its lead to 5-1.

However, just like in the games of the doubleheader, the Bears would find themselves behind and needing to rally to claim victory. The Vikings scored five-straight runs between the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-5 lead with one and half innings to play.

Northern Colorado responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs, thanks to a two-RBI double from Alyssa Wenzel and an RBI single from Amailee Morales, to take an 8-6 lead.

The Vikings didn't relent, scoring one run in the top of the seventh and loaded the bases, putting a go-ahead run in scoring position. Fortunately, Isabelle DiNapoli closed the inning to secure her seventh win of the year.

WEEKEND TOTALS

Paola Villegas led the Bears with a .800 batting average over the weekend, earning four hits in five at-bats. She scored three runs and had one RBI.
Alexsi Barashkoff was second on the team with a .556 batting average, recording five hits in nine at-bats. She had two doubles, one home run, and 10 total bases for a 1.111 slugging percentage.
Alyssa Wenzel and Lauren Strathearn both led the team with six hits on the weekend each, and both recorded .500 batting averages. Wenzel recorded three RBI and three runs scored, while Strathearn had two RBI and two runs scored.
Amailee Morales led the Bears with five RBI on the weekend. She batted .364 with four hits in 11 at-bats.
In the circle, Erin Caviness pitched a total of 11.2 innings over the weekend, and added 12 strikeouts to her Big Sky leading total.

UP NEXT
The Bears head to Ogden, Utah, to take part of the 2023 Big Sky Conference Softball Championships, April 10-13. UNC currently sits in second place in the league standings with a 9-6 (.600) record.