Northern Colorado Drops Series Finale to Idaho State

Saturday, April 5

Pocatello, Idaho

12 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

12-24, 0

Idaho State

24-13, 0

Northern Colorado

Idaho State

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

4/5/2025 2:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Katie Walling belts second homer of the season, but Bears can’t overcome Bengals’ explosive third inning in high-scoring finale

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

POCATELLO, Idaho – Northern Colorado dropped a high-scoring battle to Idaho State on Saturday afternoon at Miller Ranch, falling 16-8 in the second game of the series.

UNC (12-24, 3-3 Big Sky) struck first with a three-run opening frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double down the right field line from Nya Chacon. Katie Walling added to the early momentum with a straight steal of home in the second, helping the Bears take a 4-1 lead.

Idaho State (24-13, 5-1 Big Sky), however, responded with an offensive surge, scoring five runs in the second and nine more in a decisive third inning. The Bengals tallied 15 total hits—including five home runs—with Belle Navarrete leading the way with a pair of long balls and four RBIs.

Walling gave the Bears a late spark in the fourth, launching a three-run homer to left—her second of the season—and Kenzie Carter added a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 15-8. Idaho State answered with one more in the bottom half to seal the run-rule victory in five innings.

Isabelle DiNapoli (6-9) took the loss for Northern Colorado after giving up seven earned runs on seven hits in two innings of work. Grace Algrim came on in relief and allowed four runs over the final two frames.

Riley Wickum (4-3) earned the win for Idaho State, tossing two innings in relief and allowing four runs on three hits.

Katie Walling went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, including her second homer and a stolen base.

Amailee Morales added two hits and scored twice for the Bears.

Krista Francia reached base three times and swiped a bag, while Chacon recorded her fifth double of the season and drove in two.

UP NEXT
The Bears will hit the road again for a series against Sacramento State in Sacramento, California on April 11-12.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the softball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsSB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsSB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsSB).

Northern Colorado Softball Wraps 2025 Season with Grit, Growth and Postseason Push

Thursday, June 26

Five Bears Named to CSC Academic All-District Softball Team, Francia Advances to National Ballot

Wednesday, May 28

UNC Softball Signs Impact Two-Way Player Sadie Kahl from McCook Community College

Wednesday, May 14

Javorsky & Chacon Earn All-Tournament Honors

Javorsky and Chacon Named to Big Sky Conference All-Tournament Team

Monday, May 12

Next Event

Sacramento State

L, 3-10

Apr 11 (Fri)

1 p.m. (12 p.m. PDT)

Box Score Recap Watch Preview Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: WICKUM, Riley (4-3)

L: DiNapoli, Isabelle (6-9)

Northern Colorado

Batting:

2B: Chacon, Nya 1

HR: Walling, Katie 1

RBI: Walling, Katie 3 ; Javorsky, Sabrina 1 ; Carter, Kenzie 1 ; Chacon, Nya 2

SF: Carter, Kenzie 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Walling, Katie 2 ; Morales, Amailee 2 ; Francia, Krista 1 ; Javorsky, Sabrina 1 ; Quinney, Alina 1 ; Gandert, Jaycie 1

SB: Walling, Katie 1 ; Francia, Krista 1

HBP: Francia, Krista 1 ; Longo, Jazzy 1

Idaho State

Batting:

2B: YEE, Alyssa 1 ; DUDLEY, Kennedy 1

HR: SMITH, Gracie 1 ; BROWN, Ava 1 ; ROBISON, Olivia 1 ; NAVARRETE, Belle 2

RBI: SMITH, Gracie 3 ; YEE, Alyssa 1 ; BROWN, Ava 3 ; ROBISON, Olivia 3 ; DUDLEY, Kennedy 1 ; KEARNS, Jenna 1 ; NAVARRETE, Belle 4

SH: NAVARRETE, Belle 1

SF: ROBISON, Olivia 1

Base Running:

RUNS: SMITH, Gracie 2 ; YEE, Alyssa 4 ; BROWN, Ava 2 ; ROBISON, Olivia 1 ; DUDLEY, Kennedy 1 ; QUINN, Rebecca 2 ; KEARNS, Jenna 2 ; NAVARRETE, Belle 2