University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, April 17
Hillsboro, Ore.
3 p.m. MDT | 2 p.m. PDT
University of Northern Colorado
19-23, 5-5
2
at
10
Portland State
13-26, 3-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colorado | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Portland State | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | X | 10 | 10 | 1 |
Jesus Ayala | UNC Athletics
Bears Split Doubleheader, Looking for Series Win in Game Three
4/17/2026 9:05:00 PM | Softball
GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado and Portland State split Friday's Big Sky Conference doubleheader at Hillsboro Ballpark, with the Vikings claiming a 10–2 win in the opener before the Bears bounced back with an 8–0 shutout in game two.
GAME ONE: PORTLAND STATE 10, NORTHERN COLORADO 2
Portland State set the tone early, capitalizing on a big first inning to jump out to a 4–0 lead behind a key extra-base hit and timely RBI production. Northern Colorado got on the board in the second when KK Christie delivered a single to right-center, allowing Abby Gaona to score.
The Vikings extended their lead in the third with three more runs, putting the Bears in a difficult position. Krista Francia provided a bright spot for UNC with a solo home run to deep left—her third of the season—but Portland State responded again in the fourth, pushing its advantage to 10–2. Despite efforts to extend the game, UNC was unable to rally, as Portland State pitcher Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung secured the win.
GAME TWO: NORTHERN COLORADO 8, PORTLAND STATE 0
The Bears answered in dominant fashion in the second game, using a strong all-around performance to earn an 8–0 shutout victory.
Northern Colorado struck first in the opening inning, with KK Christie coming around to score on a Portland State error. The offense continued to build in the second, as Amailee Morales singled to center field, driving in Kenzie Carter and Abby Gaona.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Baylie Kakallis launched her first home run of the season to deep left on a 1–1 count. The Bears took full advantage of control issues from the Vikings' pitching staff, adding four more runs on walks to extend the lead to 8–0.
In the circle, Anna Wilming delivered a complete-game gem, allowing just one hit while keeping Portland State off the scoreboard to secure the win.
ON DECK: The Bears will shift their focus to game three of the series and will look to secure the series win. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. MDT.
RALLY STARTERS CLUB: The Rally Starters Club plays a vital role in the success of UNC Softball, providing enhanced training resources, advanced technology, and competitive travel opportunities. These investments directly support the student-athlete experience and help the Bears compete at a high level.
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 ONE: PORTLAND STATE 10, NORTHERN COLORADO 2
Portland State set the tone early, capitalizing on a big first inning to jump out to a 4–0 lead behind a key extra-base hit and timely RBI production. Northern Colorado got on the board in the second when KK Christie delivered a single to right-center, allowing Abby Gaona to score.
The Vikings extended their lead in the third with three more runs, putting the Bears in a difficult position. Krista Francia provided a bright spot for UNC with a solo home run to deep left—her third of the season—but Portland State responded again in the fourth, pushing its advantage to 10–2. Despite efforts to extend the game, UNC was unable to rally, as Portland State pitcher Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung secured the win.
GAME TWO: NORTHERN COLORADO 8, PORTLAND STATE 0
The Bears answered in dominant fashion in the second game, using a strong all-around performance to earn an 8–0 shutout victory.
Northern Colorado struck first in the opening inning, with KK Christie coming around to score on a Portland State error. The offense continued to build in the second, as Amailee Morales singled to center field, driving in Kenzie Carter and Abby Gaona.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Baylie Kakallis launched her first home run of the season to deep left on a 1–1 count. The Bears took full advantage of control issues from the Vikings' pitching staff, adding four more runs on walks to extend the lead to 8–0.
In the circle, Anna Wilming delivered a complete-game gem, allowing just one hit while keeping Portland State off the scoreboard to secure the win.
ON DECK: The Bears will shift their focus to game three of the series and will look to secure the series win. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. MDT.
RALLY STARTERS CLUB: The Rally Starters Club plays a vital role in the success of UNC Softball, providing enhanced training resources, advanced technology, and competitive travel opportunities. These investments directly support the student-athlete experience and help the Bears compete at a high level.
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: Nakoa-Chung, Sherreigh (8-9)
L: Algrim, Grace (5-5)
Batting:
HR: Francia, Krista 1
RBI: Christie, KK 1 ; Francia, Krista 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gaona, Abby 1 ; Francia, Krista 1
SB: Christie, KK 1
Batting:
2B: Orozco, Nichole 1 ; Martinez, Mia 2
RBI: Gaustad, Rylee 2 ; Orozco, Nichole 1 ; Martinez, Mia 5 ; Llamas, Sierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gaustad, Rylee 1 ; Orozco, Nichole 3 ; Nakoa-Chung, Sherreigh 2 ; Lutz, Breanna 2 ; Martinez, Mia 2
CS: Johnson, Grace 1
HBP: Orozco, Nichole 2
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballUNC Weekly Press Conference - Dedeann Pendleton-Helm (Apr 14)
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UNC Weekly Press Conference - Dedeann Pendleton-Helm (Mar 31)
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