The University of Northern Colorado softball team stayed alive in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the second time in two days Friday afternoon, beating Sacramento State 8-5 in an elimination game at Gloria Rodriguez Field.
University of Northern Colorado’s Nya Chacon celebrates after hitting a double while playing Sacramento State at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Friday. The Bears went on to win 8-5 to advance. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)The win was UNC’s first in four games this season against the second-seeded Hornets, including the regular season, and sent the Bears to a second game Friday afternoon. Sacramento State swept UNC in three games during the regular season, outscoring the Bears 22-9.
UNC, 19-29, and the two-time defending tournament champion, was scheduled to play again with another match-up against top-seeded Idaho State. The winner of the Bears and Bengals later in the day Friday earns a spot in the conference championship game Saturday against Weber State.
Idaho State beat UNC 10-2 in five innings Wednesday, dropping the host Bears into the elimination bracket. Idaho State also swept UNC in the teams’ three games during the regular season.
The Bears survived the first elimination test Thursday with a 19-9 win over Montana in five innings.
The early game Friday against Sacramento State was another win-or-go home deal for UNC. The Bears, though, rose to the challenge.
Northern Colorado scored four runs on six hits in the bottom of the second to take the lead and never surrendered it.
University of Northern Colorado junior Krista Francia runs down the Sacramento State runner for the out while playing at Gloria Rodriguez Field in Greeley on Friday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Jazzy Longo hit a 3-run home run, and Krista Francia brought in the other run after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Katie Walling had three hits with a double for UNC. The Bears had four doubles and five extra-base hits off three Sacramento State pitchers.
University of Northern Colorado junior Abby Gaona puts on the brakes while leading off first base against Sacramento State at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Friday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Outfielder Nya Chacon, a graduate student from Loveland, followed her two-home run day Wednesday against Montana with two hits and three RBI — including a three-run double in the fourth. She added a sacrifice fly in the sixth for UNC’s final run.
University of Northern Colorado sophomore Jazzy Longo snags the ball while playing Sacramento State at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Friday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Catcher Sabrina Javorsky also had three hits with a double for the Bears.
UNC starting pitcher Anna Wilming allowed five runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout to earn her eighth win of the season. Wilming (8-11) did not pitch Thursday in the win over Montana — with the Bears opting to use Isabelle DiNapoli and Grace Algrim, who earned the win in a relief appearance.
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