OGDEN, Utah (May 13, 2023) - Northern Colorado took down top-seeded Idaho State twice on Saturday, as the Bears won their first Big Sky Softball Championship in program history and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Tournament.
The Bears had to claw their way to the title from the loser's bracket, as UNC becomes the first Big Sky squad in the tournament's history to do so. UNC won the first game 3-2, before winning the deciding game 5-3 after multiple rain delays.
UNC trailed 2-1 in the first game, before Jayden Gandert delivered an RBI double to tie it up at 2-2 before coming home herself for the go-ahead run.
In the winner-take-all game, the Bengals held a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth before Peyton Gale's single brought home two Bears to tie it up at 3-3. Tournament MVP Alyssa Wenzel tripled to right field and brought home two more runs soon after, as the Bears jumped ahead 5-3.
Erin Caviness pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Bears, as she struck out five batters and sealed the victory for UNC.
The Bears and first-year head coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm were tabbed to finish last in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll earlier this season.
UNC will learn its regional destination Sunday, May 14, when the NCAA Softball Selection Show airs on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m. MT.
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2023 All-Tournament Team
Alyssa Wenzel, Northern Colorado (MVP)
Alexsi Barashkoff, Northern Colorado
Alison Steinker, Northern Colorado
Isabelle Dinapoli, Northern Colorado
Olivia Robinson, Idaho State
Jordan Schuring, Idaho State
Alyssa Yee, Idaho State
Angelica Cano, Idaho State
Olivia Grey, Portland State
Olivia Dean, Portland State
Logan Riggenbach, Portland State