Champions! UNC Punches Ticket to NCAA Tournament

Saturday, May 11

Pocatello, Idaho

12 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

26-24

Portland State

23-23

Portland State

Northern Colorado

5/11/2024 10:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Bears Claim Second-Straight BSC Tournament Championship

By: Michael High, Interim Director for Strategic Communications

POCATELLO, Idaho – Amailee Morales and Isabelle DiNapoli capped off a dramatic victory in 10 innings for Northern Colorado at Miller Ranch Stadium Saturday.

The 9-5 triumph secured the Bears' second-consecutive Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship and punched UNC's ticket to its second-consecutive NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.

Morales homered twice and drove in five in the if-necessary game. DiNapoli tossed 7.2 innings in relief; helping the Bears advance to the NCAA Tournament with a 9-5 victory over Portland State.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Morales laced a liner over the fence in right field, breaking a 5-5 tie. DiNapoli entered the game with one out in the third inning and earned the win after working around a one-out double to secure the victory.

After losing the first game of the day 4-3 in eight innings and trailing 3-0, UNC went to the bullpen and DiNapoli answered the call. She retired 11 of the first 15 batters she faced, allowing the Bears' offense to grab the league.

In the fourth, Ella Gonzales opened the frame with a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a double by Sabrina Javorsky. Gonzales trimmed the margin when she crossed the plate on a groundout. NYA Chacon doubled home Javorsky and evened the score at 3-all on an RBI single by Abby Gaona.

Morales put the Bears ahead with a solo long ball in the top of the fifth.

DiNapoli made the one-run lead until the home half of the seventh, with a one-out knock.

Both sides went scoreless in the eighth, before adding a run in the ninth. Javorsky pushed the Bears ahead when she beat out an infield single, allowing Lauren Strathearn to cross the plate. Portland State responded with a one-out single to knot the contest at 5-5.

Gaona singled with one out in the 10^th and Jaycie Gandert followed with a walk. Following a flyout, Strathearn beat out a swinging bunt and set the stage for Morales.

DiNapoli allowed two runs, scattered seven hits and one walk, with six strikeouts.

UNC fell 4-3 in eight innings in the first game of the day, forcing the if-necessary contest.

Portland State opened a 3-0 advantage, with one in the second and two in the sixth.

Alison Steinker led off the sixth with an infield single and trotted home when Chacon blasted a two-run home run. Down to the final strike in the seventh, Gonzales evened the score at 3-3.

The Vikings pulled ahead with a two-out single in the eighth and UNC went down in order and forced a winner-take-all final game.

Up Next
The NCAA releases the 64-team field for the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. MT Sunday.

2024 Big Sky Softball All-Tournament Team
Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado (MVP)
Ella Gonzales, Northern Colorado
Alison Steinker, Northern Colorado
Erin Caviness, Northern Colorado
Grace Kimball, Portland State
Ellie Babbitt, Portland State
Natalia Martinez, Portland State
Lorraine Alo, Portland State
Lewa Day, Sacramento State
Andrea Lira, Sacramento State
Katie Marsh, Sacramento State

Celebrate this incredible moment with the Bears by making a gift to the Rally Starters Club. Your generosity directly contributes to the continued success of our student-athletes both on and off the field. Support UNC Softball by clicking here.