Saint Mary’s Uses Late Surge to Take Game One Over Northern Colorado

Friday, March 20

Greeley, Colo.

1 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

14-16

Saint Mary's

19-10

Saint Mary's (CA)

Northern Colo.

Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics

3/20/2026 4:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. — Northern Colorado matched Saint Mary's early but a three-run seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Gaels took game one, 8-5, Friday afternoon at Gloria Rodriguez Field.

Saint Mary's struck first with a three-run opening inning, highlighted by a home run from Braxton Brown, before Northern Colorado answered immediately in the bottom half. Ella Gonzales tripled to drive in a run, Katie Walling followed with an RBI single and Hayden Nelson added an RBI knock to tie the game at 3-3 after one.

The Gaels regained the lead in the fourth on an RBI fielder's choice, but the Bears continued to respond. Gonzales lifted a sacrifice fly in the fourth to even the game at 4-4, and after Saint Mary's took a 5-4 lead in the fifth, Nelson delivered a solo home run in the bottom half to tie it once again.

The game remained tied heading into the seventh before Saint Mary's broke through. A two-out rally set up a three-run home run from Alex Cutonilli, giving the Gaels an 8-5 advantage they would not relinquish.

Northern Colorado threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting multiple runners on base, but was unable to capitalize.

The Bears finished with 10 hits, led by Amailee Morales and Hayden Nelson, who each recorded three-hit performances. Gonzales drove in two runs, while Walling and Nelson added RBIs.

Grace Algrim (3-3) took the loss after pitching 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs, while Ellyse Hydock recorded the final two outs in relief.

The Bears will face the Gaels tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. at Gloria Rodriguez Field.

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