Softball Set for West Coast Matchup

GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears will travel to Sacramento, California for a three game Big Sky Series against the Sacramento State Hornets.

GAME COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the Sacramento 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 continues Big Sky play this weekend on the road at Sacramento State, entering the third conference series of the season in a tie for third place.

The Bears (12-24, 3-3 Big Sky) are looking to bounce back from a three-game skid and regain momentum in the league standings. Sacramento State (16-18, 3-3 Big Sky) sits at the same conference mark, with both teams chasing league leaders Idaho State and Weber State (5-1 each).

At the plate, UNC is powered by one of the most dangerous bats in the Big Sky in Amailee Morales. The junior is slashing .380/.481/.759 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 22 walks, leading the team in nearly every major offensive category. Krista Francia has also been stellar, batting .375 with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 19 RBIs.

Katie Walling (.361 AVG, 12 doubles, 44 hits) remains a table-setter and threat on the basepaths with 8 steals. Ella Gonzales (.265, 5 HR, 20 RBIs) and Jazzy Longo (.250, 4 HR, 21 RBIs) have added clutch production in the middle of the lineup, while Sabrina Javorsky and Nya Chacon continue to contribute with power and timely hitting.

Collectively, the Bears are hitting .287 with 30 home runs in 36 games.

In the circle, Isabelle DiNapoli (6-9, 6.08 ERA) has shouldered the bulk of the innings, tossing over 100 frames this season.

Anna Wilming (5-9, 5.77 ERA) has four complete games and continues to give the Bears quality starts. Together, the duo has combined for 15 of UNC's 36 starts.

Head Coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm, now in her third season, holds a 65-73 overall record at UNC. The Bears are 3-3 in Big Sky play and 12-24 overall, with a solid 5-2 mark at home but a 2-12 record on the road. As they head into the heart of conference play, finding consistency away from Greeley will be key.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
(Friday / 1 p.m. MDT (DH) | Saturday / 1 p.m. MDT)
The Sacramento State Hornets are 16-18 on the season and 6-5 on the road. They've faced a mix of tough competition throughout the non-conference slate, including matchups with ranked teams like No. 6 UCLA and perennial postseason squads like San Diego State and Cal.

The Hornets were picked fourth in the Big Sky Preseason Poll and currently sit at 3-3 in conference play. Offensively, they're one of the stronger lineups in the league, batting .293 as a team and showcasing solid power up and down the order. On the mound, Sac State has a staff ERA of 3.91 and is led by Caroline Evans, who holds a 3.08 ERA over 77.1 innings with 81 strikeouts.

Leading the way at the plate is Madison Evers-Lyles. The junior is hitting .379 with six home runs, 18 RBIs, and an impressive 1.146 OPS in 30 games. Senior Andrea Lira is right behind her with a .376 average, 30 RBIs, and six homers of her own. Lafulafu Malepeai adds another reliable bat to the order, hitting .337 with 20 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

The Bears are 10-30 all-time against Sacramento State but are currently on a two-game win streak in the series. The last time these two met was in May 2024, when UNC held off a late Hornet rally for a 9-8 win in the Big Sky Tournament. Northern Colorado is 2-14 all-time on the road against Sac State.

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 for a matchup against Portland State April 18-19. Friday's doubleheader will feature Pride Day, while Saturday's game will celebrate the teams' seniors.

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).

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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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