The status of the Big Sky Conference Softball Tournament at Northern Colorado’s Gloria Rodriguez field was in doubt as of late Tuesday afternoon after rain and storms washed out the first day of the four-day tournament in Greeley.
The University of Northern Colorado Athletic Department issued an email at 3:48 p.m. saying the four scheduled games Tuesday were postponed. UNC said a schedule for the rest of the tournament would be released at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Northern Colorado and Portland State opened the six-team, double-elimination tournament about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, which was 15 minutes later than scheduled because of rain in the area.
The teams will resume the game Wednesday with the scored tied 4-4 in the top of the fourth. The time of the restart will be determined in the morning, according to assistant director of strategic communications Brooke Richards.
By 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Portland State and UNC had been delayed twice for about 90 minutes total because of rain and lightning. The second delay, caused by lightning, led to a 30-minute stoppage and the game was never restarted.
The complex at Rodriguez Field was cleared for the lightning delay. UNC crews were not able to cover the infield while lightning was in the area, and the field took on a lot of water and was soaked by the end of the afternoon.
Asked if it’s possible the tournament will move to a different field or a different location in the area, Richards said the Big Sky Conference is exploring a number of options.
“Nothing has been confirmed at this time,” Richards wrote in an email. “The Big Sky is continuing to evaluate, and we will await their decision.”
Richards said the field has been covered with a tarp for the night. No other special drying measures are being taken to maintain the field.
Fifth-seeded Portland State took an early lead with two runs on three hits in the top of the first. The Vikings sent seven batters to the plate in the inning against UNC starting pitcher Isabelle DiNapoli.
UNC’s Krista Francia hit a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first to cut into the Vikings lead at 2-1. Portland State added another run in the top of the second when Ellie Babbitt reached on a Francia error at shortstop, allowing Alapese Matautia to score.
UNC first baseman Amailee Morales hit a 3-run home run to left center field in the bottom of the second to give the fourth-seeded Bears their first lead at 4-3.
Portland State pitcher Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung issued back-to-back two-out walks to Jaycie Gandert and Ella Gonzales ahead of Morales, setting up UNC’s top hitter for her team-leading 14th home run of the season.
Portland State tied the game at 4-4 on an ground out by Nichole Orozco in the top of the third before the first delay of the day. The game was stopped because of rain and the delay lasted for an hour.
The other games scheduled Tuesday were: third-seeded Weber State against No. 6 Montana at 1:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed Idaho State was scheduled to play the UNC-Portland State winner at 4 p.m. Second-seeded Sacramento State was to meet the Weber State-Montana winner at 6:30 p.m.
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