University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, February 14
Phoenix, Ariz.
5 p.m. MST
University of Northern Colorado
3-5
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at
8
Grand Canyon
9-0
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2
3
4
5
6
7
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H
E
Northern Colorado
0
0
0
0
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10
1
Grand Canyon
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8
10
2
Photo by: Chi Woodruff
UNC Edged in Two Close Contests Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium
2/14/2026 10:23:00 PM | Softball
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Northern Colorado battled in two tightly contested games Saturday at GCU Softball Stadium, falling 8-3 to RV Grand Canyon before dropping a 5-4 walk-off decision to Harvard in the nightcap.
GAME 1: RV Grand Canyon 8, Northern Colorado 3
The Bears jumped on the Lopes early, loading the bases in the first inning behind singles from Amailee Morales, Katie Walling and Ella Gonzales, but Grand Canyon escaped the jam to keep the game scoreless.
GCU broke through in the second with a three-run homer from Addison Shifflett and extended its lead to 4-0 in the third. Northern Colorado responded in the fifth, capitalizing on two GCU errors. Walling drove in the Bears' first run on a fielder's choice before Gonzales followed with an RBI single to right center, trimming the deficit to 4-2.
The Lopes answered with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Trinity Martin's second home run of the game, pushing the advantage to 8-2.
Northern Colorado continued to compete at the plate, recording 10 hits on the night. Morales finished 2-for-3 with a walk, while Walling and Gonzales each tallied two hits and an RBI. In the seventh, KK Christie doubled to left center and drove in Morales for the game's final run.
Anna Wilming took the loss after allowing six earned runs over four innings, while Ellyse Hydock worked two innings in relief.
GAME 2: Harvard 5, Northern Colorado 4
The Bears carried momentum into the late game, striking first in the opening inning when Amailee Morales came around to score on a Harvard throwing error.
Harvard answered with two runs in the bottom half, but Northern Colorado reclaimed the lead in the third. Morales doubled to right center to start the rally, and back-to-back RBI doubles from Christie and Kenzie Carter gave UNC a 3-2 edge.
The Crimson tied the game in the bottom of the third after a throwing error allowed an unearned run to score, setting up a back-and-forth finish.
Northern Colorado threatened multiple times and regained the lead in the seventh. Morales singled to open the inning, Quinn Myers-Lenz entered as a pinch runner and stole second. Christie delivered her third hit of the game, and Carter's RBI fielder's choice plated the go-ahead run for a 4-3 advantage.
Harvard responded in the bottom half with a pair of singles and a two-out, two-run walk-off single from Finley Payne to secure the 5-4 win.
Christie led the offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Morales added two hits and two runs scored, while Carter drove in two.
Hydock went the distance in the circle, allowing four earned runs over 6.1 innings in the tough-luck loss.
RECORD WATCH: Amailee Morales ranks 1st all-time in doubles (45), home runs (29) and walks (88) in program history.
Morales sits 2nd in RBIs (121), just one shy of the Northern Colorado career record of 122.
She also ranks 11th in hits (147), 4th in total bases (283) and 6th in putouts (621).
Ella Gonzales ranks 11th all-time in RBIs (78), 11th in walks (50) and 11th in home runs (14).
Gonzales also sits 7th in program history in hit by pitch (18) as she continues to climb UNC's career charts.
DUE UP: The Bears weekend in Phoenix will conclude with a game against Harvard tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
Rally Starters Club: The Rally Starters Club is essential to the success of UNC Softball, providing enhanced training resources, advanced technology, and competitive travel opportunities that help the Bears compete at the highest level. These investments directly enrich the student-athlete experience and ensure the team is equipped to excel on and off the field.
Give to the Rally Starters Club today!
FOLLOW THE BEARS: For the latest news and updates on Northern Colorado Softball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @UNC_BearsSB, and on Facebook at /UNCBearsSB.
GAME 1: RV Grand Canyon 8, Northern Colorado 3
The Bears jumped on the Lopes early, loading the bases in the first inning behind singles from Amailee Morales, Katie Walling and Ella Gonzales, but Grand Canyon escaped the jam to keep the game scoreless.
GCU broke through in the second with a three-run homer from Addison Shifflett and extended its lead to 4-0 in the third. Northern Colorado responded in the fifth, capitalizing on two GCU errors. Walling drove in the Bears' first run on a fielder's choice before Gonzales followed with an RBI single to right center, trimming the deficit to 4-2.
The Lopes answered with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Trinity Martin's second home run of the game, pushing the advantage to 8-2.
Northern Colorado continued to compete at the plate, recording 10 hits on the night. Morales finished 2-for-3 with a walk, while Walling and Gonzales each tallied two hits and an RBI. In the seventh, KK Christie doubled to left center and drove in Morales for the game's final run.
Anna Wilming took the loss after allowing six earned runs over four innings, while Ellyse Hydock worked two innings in relief.
GAME 2: Harvard 5, Northern Colorado 4
The Bears carried momentum into the late game, striking first in the opening inning when Amailee Morales came around to score on a Harvard throwing error.
Harvard answered with two runs in the bottom half, but Northern Colorado reclaimed the lead in the third. Morales doubled to right center to start the rally, and back-to-back RBI doubles from Christie and Kenzie Carter gave UNC a 3-2 edge.
The Crimson tied the game in the bottom of the third after a throwing error allowed an unearned run to score, setting up a back-and-forth finish.
Northern Colorado threatened multiple times and regained the lead in the seventh. Morales singled to open the inning, Quinn Myers-Lenz entered as a pinch runner and stole second. Christie delivered her third hit of the game, and Carter's RBI fielder's choice plated the go-ahead run for a 4-3 advantage.
Harvard responded in the bottom half with a pair of singles and a two-out, two-run walk-off single from Finley Payne to secure the 5-4 win.
Christie led the offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Morales added two hits and two runs scored, while Carter drove in two.
Hydock went the distance in the circle, allowing four earned runs over 6.1 innings in the tough-luck loss.
RECORD WATCH: Amailee Morales ranks 1st all-time in doubles (45), home runs (29) and walks (88) in program history.
Morales sits 2nd in RBIs (121), just one shy of the Northern Colorado career record of 122.
She also ranks 11th in hits (147), 4th in total bases (283) and 6th in putouts (621).
Ella Gonzales ranks 11th all-time in RBIs (78), 11th in walks (50) and 11th in home runs (14).
Gonzales also sits 7th in program history in hit by pitch (18) as she continues to climb UNC's career charts.
DUE UP: The Bears weekend in Phoenix will conclude with a game against Harvard tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
Rally Starters Club: The Rally Starters Club is essential to the success of UNC Softball, providing enhanced training resources, advanced technology, and competitive travel opportunities that help the Bears compete at the highest level. These investments directly enrich the student-athlete experience and ensure the team is equipped to excel on and off the field.
Give to the Rally Starters Club today!
FOLLOW THE BEARS: For the latest news and updates on Northern Colorado Softball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @UNC_BearsSB, and on Facebook at /UNCBearsSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Abi (1-0)
L: Wilming, Anna (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Christie, KK 1
RBI: Gonzales, Ella 1 ; Walling, Katie 1 ; Christie, KK 1
SH: Gaona, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gaona, Abby 1 ; Morales, Amailee 1 ; Peace, Eva 1
Batting:
2B: Holtorf, Raegan 1 ; Shifflett, Addison 1
HR: Martin, Trinity 2 ; Shifflett, Addison 1
RBI: Martin, Trinity 4 ; Cooper, Jada 1 ; Shifflett, Addison 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Martin, Trinity 3 ; Holtorf, Raegan 1 ; Cooper, Jada 1 ; Shifflett, Addison 1 ; Wilkinson, Haley 1 ; Rueda, Izzy 1
SB: Williams, Briah 1 ; McCray, Sydney 1
CS: Williams, Briah 1
HBP: Gonzalez, Emily 1 ; Pond, Ellie 1 ; McCray, Sydney 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
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