University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
Northern Colorado Softball Wraps 2025 Season with Grit, Growth and Postseason Push
6/26/2025 2:36:00 PM | Softball
Bears Reach Big Sky Semifinals; Four Named Academic All-District
GREELEY, Colo. – The 2025 season for Northern Colorado softball featured a blend of growing pains and postseason resilience, as the Bears leaned on a mix of veteran experience and youthful energy to reach the Big Sky Conference semifinals and continue their tradition of academic excellence.
UNC finished the year with a 19–30 overall record and a 5–6 mark in conference play. While the win column didn't match the program's lofty recent standards, the Bears showed flashes of their championship form, especially down the stretch.
Northern Colorado hosted the Big Sky Softball Championship and made a statement early, knocking off Sacramento State 8–5 in the quarterfinals. Junior Jazzy Longo delivered a three-run home run and finished with three RBIs, while Nya Chacon added a key two-run double to break things open in the middle innings. Pitcher Anna Wilming went the distance in the circle, scattering eight hits and five runs to pick up the complete-game win.
The Bears' run ended in the semifinals after a 10–3 loss to eventual tournament champion Idaho State.
Offensively, the Bears had their moments throughout the season. They exploded for a season-high 19 runs on 16 hits in the tournament against Montana and belted six home runs in a February win over New Mexico State, highlighting the team's power potential.
Wilming, who led the pitching staff with 45 strikeouts in 109 innings, anchored a group that showed improvement during conference play. The sophomore right-hander finished with eight wins and provided stability in the circle, particularly in the postseason.
UNC entered the year as the Big Sky preseason favorite after claiming both the regular season and tournament titles in 2024. Head coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm's squad faced a challenging non-conference slate that included matchups against national powers like Florida State and Oklahoma State at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
Francia and Walling were among four Bears named to the 2025 Academic All-District Team, joining Longo and Wilming. Francia, who maintained a 4.0 GPA while making 39 starts in her debut season, advanced to the Academic All-America ballot.
While the season ended short of a third consecutive Big Sky crown, the program continued to raise its academic profile and lay groundwork for the future. With a deep returning core and young talent gaining experience, the Bears are poised to make another run at the conference title in 2026.
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).
UNC finished the year with a 19–30 overall record and a 5–6 mark in conference play. While the win column didn't match the program's lofty recent standards, the Bears showed flashes of their championship form, especially down the stretch.
Northern Colorado hosted the Big Sky Softball Championship and made a statement early, knocking off Sacramento State 8–5 in the quarterfinals. Junior Jazzy Longo delivered a three-run home run and finished with three RBIs, while Nya Chacon added a key two-run double to break things open in the middle innings. Pitcher Anna Wilming went the distance in the circle, scattering eight hits and five runs to pick up the complete-game win.
The Bears' run ended in the semifinals after a 10–3 loss to eventual tournament champion Idaho State.
Offensively, the Bears had their moments throughout the season. They exploded for a season-high 19 runs on 16 hits in the tournament against Montana and belted six home runs in a February win over New Mexico State, highlighting the team's power potential.
Wilming, who led the pitching staff with 45 strikeouts in 109 innings, anchored a group that showed improvement during conference play. The sophomore right-hander finished with eight wins and provided stability in the circle, particularly in the postseason.
UNC entered the year as the Big Sky preseason favorite after claiming both the regular season and tournament titles in 2024. Head coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm's squad faced a challenging non-conference slate that included matchups against national powers like Florida State and Oklahoma State at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
Francia and Walling were among four Bears named to the 2025 Academic All-District Team, joining Longo and Wilming. Francia, who maintained a 4.0 GPA while making 39 starts in her debut season, advanced to the Academic All-America ballot.
While the season ended short of a third consecutive Big Sky crown, the program continued to raise its academic profile and lay groundwork for the future. With a deep returning core and young talent gaining experience, the Bears are poised to make another run at the conference title in 2026.
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).
Players Mentioned
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