The Crown Fits: UNC Softball Captures First Big Sky Championship and Advances to NCAA Tourney

Saturday, May 13

Ogden, Utah

1 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

25-21

Idaho State

20-27

Northern Colorado

Idaho St.

Photo by: Robert Casey

5/13/2023 7:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Dennis Driscoll, UNC Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications

OGDEN, Utah -- The story wrote itself.

Picked to finish last in the Big Sky preseason rankings, the Northern Colorado softball team proved it didn't matter. The Bears defeated No. 1 seed Idaho State, twice on Saturday, to claim its first Big Sky Tournament Championship.

"This team fought all year, and they just loved on each other so hard, and they get to bring it home to Greeley," said UNC head softball coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm. "We have come back in so many games and believed in each other. We had a ton of fun and a ton of energy. It took everyone to help us win this and proud and excited of this team."

Tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alyssa Wenzel delivered a bases-clearing triple and put the Bears up 5-3.

Erin Caviness then struck out the final two ISU batters and the Bears became champions.

The Bears trailed to start the sixth inning 3-1, and it was Peyton Gale who came through with a clutch hit. Gale singled to left field to score two runs and tie the game.

As a team, UNC produced eight hits. Wenzel and Amailee Morales each batted 2-for-3.

Alison Steinker, Carson Fischer, and Sabrina Javorsky each picked up a hit.

In the first game on Saturday, the Bengals opened a 2-0 lead, and the Bears came back.

Jayden Gandert put the Bears on board in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly and tied it at 2-2 in the sixth inning with an RBI double to center field. Lauren Strathearn's RBI single to center field put the Bears ahead for good.

The NCAA Softball Championships Selection Show is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN 2. The Bears will find out the opponent and regional location.