Morales Sets RBI Record as Bears Split Opening Day at Roadrunner Classic

Friday, February 20

San Antonio, Texas

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

University of Northern Colorado

5-6

Stephen F. Austin

7-6

Stephen F. Austin

Northern Colorado

2/20/2026 9:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Tournament Central

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Northern Colorado softball split Friday's opening day at the Roadrunner Classic, defeating Stephen F. Austin 8-7 before falling in extra innings to UTSA, 4-3, at Roadrunner Field.

The day was highlighted by history, as Amailee Morales drove in her 123rd career RBI to become Northern Colorado's all-time RBI leader.

GAME 1: Northern Colorado 8, Stephen F. Austin 7
Northern Colorado built early momentum and held off a late push from Stephen F. Austin to secure its fifth win of the season.

The Bears struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on an SFA error and a Katie Walling RBI fielder's choice to take a 2-0 lead. After SFA trimmed the deficit, UNC answered with a three-run fourth inning fueled by Hayden Nelson's solo home run and a two-run blast from Kenzie Carter to extend the lead to 5-1.

Ella Gonzales added a solo homer in the fifth, and the Bears created separation again in the sixth. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Morales delivered the defining swing of the day, a two-run single up the middle that scored both Carter and KK Christie, giving UNC an 8-4 cushion and marking her 122nd and 123rd career RBIs to break the program record.

Stephen F. Austin made it interesting in the seventh, cutting the margin to one, but Ellyse Hydock closed the door to secure her second save of the season. Anna Wilming earned the win, working six innings with five strikeouts.

Carter finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, while Gonzales and Nelson each homered as part of an eight-hit effort.

GAME 2: UTSA 4, Northern Colorado 3 (8 Innings)
In the nightcap, the Bears jumped out early behind Ella Gonzales, who homered to right-center in the first inning to give UNC a 1-0 lead. Northern Colorado added another run in the second following aggressive baserunning and a UTSA throwing error, then pushed its advantage to 3-0 in the fifth when Krista Francia drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded.

Grace Algrim was sharp through 6.2 innings in the circle, limiting UTSA's offense and navigating traffic in key moments. The Roadrunners broke through in the seventh with three runs to force extra innings, capitalizing on a pair of hits and a defensive miscue.

Northern Colorado put the tying run aboard in the eighth after back-to-back singles from Emma Harrington and Katie Thomson, but was unable to convert. UTSA walked it off in the bottom half on an RBI single to center.

Gonzales led the Bears offensively, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Morales added two hits in the contest as UNC recorded seven hits overall.

RECORD WATCH: Amailee Morales ranks 1st all-time in doubles (47), home runs (29), RBIs (123), and walks (90) in program history. She is now 8th in hits (157) with 295 total bases (3rd) and 651 putouts (6th).

She ranks fifth all-time in Big Sky Conference history in doubles, is tied for 10th in home runs, and sits sixth in walks.

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).

DUE UP: Northern Colorado returns to action Saturday morning with a 10:30 a.m. MT matchup against UMass Lowell at Roadrunner Field.

Tournament play continues throughout the day, as UTSA faces Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m., followed by the No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed game at 3:30 p.m. and the No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed matchup at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available for all contests.

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.