Morales Powers Bears Past Portland State Before Idaho State Offense Overwhelms in Nightcap

Wednesday, May 7

Greeley, Colo.

10 a.m.

University of Northern Colorado

17-28

Portland State University

12-38

Portland State

Northern Colorado

5/7/2025 11:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado splits behind Morales’ big bat and Wilming’s relief effort

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Behind a three-run homer from Amailee Morales and a late-inning shutdown by Anna Wilming, Northern Colorado secured a 7–5 victory over Portland State in Tuesday's continuation game at Gloria Rodriguez Field. However, the Bears couldn't carry the momentum into the nightcap, falling 10–2 in five innings to Idaho State in game three of the Big Sky Tournament.

GAME ONE | Northern Colorado 7, Portland State 5
Pitching: (W) Anna Wilming (7–10); (L) Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung (3–3)

A second-inning blast from Morales set the tone as the Bears rallied from an early 3–1 deficit to top the Vikings in a back-and-forth contest. Morales drove in three with her centerfield shot, and Krista Francia led the Bears with three hits and two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the fourth.

Northern Colorado racked up seven runs on eight hits, highlighted by a three-run fourth inning that featured an RBI triple from Sabrina Javorsky and a bunt single by Nya Chacon.

Wilming came on in relief of Isabelle DiNapoli in the fourth and tossed four solid innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out two and inducing key groundouts to seal the win.

GAME TWO | Idaho State 10, Northern Colorado 2 (5 inn.)
Pitching: (L) Anna Wilming (7–11); (W) Meracle (7–1)

Northern Colorado struck first on a solo homer from Ella Gonzales in the opening pitch and got another solo shot from Chacon in the fourth, but the Idaho State offense proved too much to handle. The Bengals scored in four straight innings, including a seven-run outburst between the third and fourth that broke the game open.

Wilming was tagged for nine runs (five earned) in three innings as the Bears' defense committed four errors behind her. Idaho State's Navarrete homered and drove in two, while Yee collected three hits and a pair of RBIs.

UNC managed just four hits in the game and went scoreless in their final three at-bats.

UP NEXT
The Bears will look to avoid being eliminated by No. 6 Montana in game five of the Big Sky Tournament at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 7.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE UPDATE

Thursday, May 8^th
Game 4: #2 SAC vs. #3 WSU – 10 a.m.
Game 5: #4 UNC vs. #6 UM – 12:30 p.m.
Game 6: #5 PSU vs. TBD – 3 p.m.
Game 7: #1 ISU vs. TBD – 5:30 p.m.

Friday, May 9^th
Game 8: TBD vs. TBD - 12:00 pm 
Game 9: TBD vs. TBD - 2:30 pm  

Saturday, May 10^th
Game 10: TBD vs. TBD - 12:00pm

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).