Bears Set for Final Big Sky Showdown at Weber State

GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears will look to end their regular season on a high note as they take on Weber State in Ogden, Utah beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. and the series finale on Saturday at 12 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the Weber State athletic communications department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date.

A LOOK AT THE BEARS
Northern Colorado softball is set for its final Big Sky series of the regular season as the Bears travel to Ogden, Utah, to take on Weber State.

UNC (14-27, 5-6 Big Sky) currently sits in the middle of the conference standings and enters the weekend riding a two-game win streak after sweeping Portland State at home. The Bears have found success at Gloria Rodriguez Field this season with a 7-2 home record, but the road has been a different story — they're just 2-15 away from Greeley.

This weekend marks the 45th–47th all-time meetings between the Bears and Wildcats, with the series knotted at 22-22. Northern Colorado has won five straight in the matchup, including an 8-0 shutout in their last meeting on May 9, 2024.

At the plate, junior Amailee Morales continues to lead the charge. She's one of the most feared bats in the Big Sky, slashing .376/.479/.761 with 12 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 24 walks — all team bests. Supporting Morales are consistent contributors Krista Francia (.354, 8 doubles, 3 HRs, 21 RBIs) and Katie Walling (.348, 12 doubles, 46 hits, 8 SBs), who have helped drive the offense.

Power hitters Ella Gonzales (5 HR, 20 RBIs) and Jazzy Longo (4 HR, 21 RBIs) round out the heart of the order, while veterans Sabrina Javorsky and Nya Chacon bring depth and experience to the lineup. As a unit, the Bears own a .281 team batting average and have hit 31 home runs in 41 games.

In the circle, Isabelle DiNapoli (6-10, 6.22 ERA) and Anna Wilming (5-10, 5.57 ERA) continue to anchor the staff. The duo has combined for 34 starts and over 180 innings of work.

Now in her third season, head coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm holds a 67-76 overall record since taking over the program in 2023.

SCOUTING WEBER STATE
(Friday / 1 p.m. MDT (DH) | Saturday / 12 p.m. MDT)
The Weber State Wildcats are 21-27 overall and 7-5 in Big Sky play heading into their final regular season series at home against Northern Colorado. They've won two of their last three and are looking to build momentum as the conference tournament approaches.

Offensively, the Wildcats have found consistency in the middle of their lineup, led by Riley Whalen (.382 AVG) and Abby Grundy (.376 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI), who have been two of the most productive hitters in the Big Sky. Weber State has shown the ability to put up big innings, including double-digit performances against SIUE, Belmont, and San Diego State earlier this season. Olivia Birkinshaw has added power to the lineup with 10 home runs, while Sadie Kirk (.339 AVG, 6 HR) has also been a key run producer.

In the circle, Weber State has leaned on Cali McCraw (4.03 ERA, 89.1 IP), who's posted a 9-5 record and five complete games. Jayci Finch and Joslynn Veltien have also contributed significant innings, though the staff has struggled with consistency at times, especially in non-conference play. Despite some ups and downs, the Wildcats have shown flashes of shutdown pitching, including a recent 6-0 shutout win over Utah.

BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
As the 2025 softball season approaches, Northern Colorado has been named the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll. The Bears, who made history last season by sweeping both the regular-season and tournament titles for the first time, earned three first-place votes and topped the poll with 23 points. Head coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm's squad enters the new campaign with high expectations after a dominant 2024 run, and they will look to defend their title against a competitive field that includes Idaho State (21 points, two first-place votes) and Portland State (17 points, one first-place vote), both of whom made deep postseason runs last year.

Northern Colorado will also have the opportunity to host the 2025 Big Sky Softball Championship at Gloria Rodriguez Field from May 6-9, giving the Bears a home-field advantage as they aim for back-to-back titles. Fans can follow the team's journey and all Big Sky action on social media using @BigSkyConf and the hashtag #ExperienceElevated.

UP NEXT
The Bears will return home to host the Big Sky Championship May 6-9. Tickets are on sale now, and can be found here.

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Players Mentioned

Nya Chacon

Isabelle DiNapoli

Krista Francia

Ella Gonzales

Sabrina Javorsky

Jazzy Longo

Amailee Morales

Katie Walling

Anna Wilming

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