PREVIEW: Bears Travel to San Antonio for Roadrunner Classic

Friday, February 20

San Antonio, Texas

12 p.m. MST | 1 p.m. CST

University of Northern Colorado

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: Chi Woodruff

2/18/2026 10:38:00 AM | Softball

UNC Game Notes

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado continues its non-conference slate this weekend at the Roadrunner Classic in San Antonio, opening Friday with a 12 p.m. MT matchup against Stephen F. Austin before taking on tournament host UTSA at 5 p.m. MT. The Bears return to Roadrunner Field Saturday morning to face UMass Lowell at 9:30 a.m. MT, followed by a second game later in the day based on tournament placement, and will close the weekend Sunday with a final matchup scheduled for either 9:30 a.m. or 12 p.m. MT.

CATCHING UP ON THE BEARS: Northern Colorado turns the page to the Roadrunner Classic (Roadrunner Field | San Antonio, Texas) after going 2-3 at the Grand Canyon Invite in Phoenix. The Bears opened the weekend with a 4-2 win over South Dakota, then faced a pair of one-run/two-run swings against RV Grand Canyon and Harvard before closing the trip with a 4-2 win over the Crimson to secure their fourth victory of the season.

Through 10 games, UNC has shown it can win tight ones when it executes late. The Bears are 2-0 in two-run games and have played their most competitive softball when they're getting traffic early and handing leads to the bullpen.

Offensively, the top half continues to set the tone. KK Christie and Amailee Morales are both hitting above .400, and UNC's extra-base pop has remained present (10 home runs, 15 doubles) as the Bears keep building consistency from game to game.

Northern Colorado enters the weekend 4-6 overall (0-0 Big Sky).

The Bears were selected fourth in the 2026 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Amailee Morales (1B), Krista Francia (SS), Katie Walling (3B) and Anna Wilming (P) earning Preseason All-Conference recognition.

KEY NOTES ON THE BEARS: Northern Colorado is hitting .273 as a team (72 hits, 38 runs) with 10 home runs and 15 doubles through 10 games.

KK Christie leads UNC at the plate, batting .433 (13-for-30) with six doubles, three home runs and six RBIs while reaching at a .500 clip.

Amailee Morales is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with five doubles and continues to be a table-setter and finisher in the middle of the order.

Katie Walling has provided early power production with two home runs and six RBIs, while Ella Gonzales has driven in a team-high eight runs through 10 games.

In the circle, Anna Wilming is 2-1 with 27.0 innings, 21 strikeouts, and a save. Ellyse Hydock is 1-2 with 21.1 innings and 13 strikeouts, also recording a save.

As a team, UNC has leaned into "bend, don't break" moments: the Bears are 2-0 in two-run games, 0-1 in one-run games, and have played all 10 games in regulation (no extra-inning games yet).

RECORD WATCH: Amailee Morales ranks 1st all-time in doubles (47), home runs (29) and walks (90) in program history. She sits 2nd in RBIs (121), one shy of the Northern Colorado career record (122), and is now 8th in hits (153) with 291 total bases and 635 putouts.

Ella Gonzales ranks 11th all-time in RBIs (81), 11th in walks (51) and 11th in home runs (14), and sits 7th in program history in hit by pitch (18).

KEY NOTES ON STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (5-5)
SFA is hitting .313 as a team through 10 games with 88 hits, 50 RBIs and 58 runs scored. They've shown balance more than pure power (4 home runs), but they pressure defenses with consistent contact and extra-base hits (12 doubles, 3 triples).

Ellie Vance has been the engine at the top, batting .541 (20-for-37) with 10 RBIs and is also 4-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Jamie Varga (.429) and Kyi'Marri Ester (.417) give SFA multiple high-average bats in the lineup, while Kara Pride (1 HR, 6 RBI) and Lilly Bean (1 HR, 6 RBI) provide the most proven pop early.

In the circle, SFA's team ERA sits at 3.06 with opponents hitting .248. Crimson Bryant (2.70 ERA, 31 K in 23.1 IP) has been the primary strikeout arm, while Amelia Hatthorn has been sharp in limited work (0.82 ERA, 19 K in 17.0 IP) and owns the staff's lone save.

KEY NOTES ON UTSA (2-6)
UTSA is hitting .315 as a team through eight games (63 hits) and has produced 26 RBIs, but the results have been shaped heavily by schedule strength early (multiple ranked opponents in San Antonio and a trip to Puerto Vallarta).

Taryn Madlock has been UTSA's most productive bat so far, hitting .500 (12-for-24) with three doubles and a home run. Sabrina Wick (.370) and Samantha Mundine (.364, 6 RBI) add steady production, while Brookelynn Meador has supplied power (1 HR) and run production (4 RBI).

The Roadrunners' pitching numbers reflect the opening stretch: staff ERA 7.60 with opponents hitting .306. Arlette Hernandez has handled the most work (24.2 IP, 19 K), while the staff is still searching for consistent shutdown innings and traffic control (38 walks as a team through 50.2 innings).

KEY NOTES ON UMASS LOWELL (2-3)
UMass Lowell is hitting .286 as a team through five games with 32 hits and 19 RBIs, and their production is more speed/contact-driven so far (0 home runs). They've also been aggressive on the bases with 12 steals (perfect 12-for-12).

Julia Rowley leads the offense, batting .571 with three doubles, while Avery Spinello-Branch is hitting .429 and has driven in eight runs (team leader). The River Hawks have several players with early on-base ability, and they've been opportunistic when they get runners aboard.

In the circle, the staff ERA is 7.00 with opponents batting .322 and eight home runs allowed in five games. Olivia DeCitise has carried the primary load (14.2 IP, 13 K), while the group overall has shown strikeout capability but has been vulnerable to big swings early.

DUE UP: COLORADO CLASSIC DI TOURNAMENT
Greeley & Fort Collins, Colo.

Northern Colorado returns to Northern Colorado next weekend for the Colorado Classic DI Tournament, opening play at Gloria Rodriguez Field in Greeley before shifting to Ram Field in Fort Collins.

The Bears will face Creighton twice on Friday, Feb. 27, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. MST and 3:30 p.m. MST at Gloria Rodriguez Field.

Tournament action continues Saturday, Feb. 28, in Fort Collins with a 10:30 a.m. MST matchup against Creighton, followed by a 1 p.m. MST contest against Colorado State at Ram Field.

The weekend concludes Sunday, Mar. 1, with a 2 p.m. MST rematch at Colorado State.

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.