The University of Northern Colorado softball team plays in the Big Sky Conference Tournament this week in Pocatello, Idaho, and the second-seeded Bears placed six players on all-conference teams, the Big Sky announced last week.
Second baseman Katie Walling and utility player Ella Gonzales were named to the first team, while first baseman Amailee Morales and outfielder KK Christie were selected for the second team.
Infielders Krista Francia and Hayden Nelson were picked for the honorable mention team.
All six players were among the team leaders offensive and defensively through the 48-game regular season. UNC (23-25) was to play its first game late Monday afternoon in the double-elimination Big Sky tournament at Idaho State University.
Walling was the Bears’ third-leading hitter during the regular season with a .378 batting average. Gonzales was the second-leading hitter with a .389 average, and she was also second in on-base plus slugging percentage while starting all 48 games.
Morales again led the Bears in hitting (.419) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.161), in addition to total bases, slugging percentage and walks. She also started all 48 games.
Christie was also among the team’s offensive leaders, hitting .314. She led the team with 42 runs scored and was behind Morales, Nelson and Gonzales in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.002).
Francia and Nelson hit .306 and .289, respectively. Francia started all 48 games. Nelson led the Bears with 12 home runs and 36 RBI.
The Big Sky individual winners this spring are player of the year, Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State; pitcher of the year, Marley Goluskin, Idaho State; freshman of the year, Kailee Mejia, Montana; co-newcomers of the year, Carah Sweet, Montana and Madi Mendoza, Sacramento State; and co-coaches of the year, Andrew Rich, Idaho State and Stef Ewing, Montana.
The Big Sky Conference Tournament runs through Thursday. UNC lost its first game of the tournament to third-seeded Sacramento State 6-5 late Monday afternoon. UNC meets No. 5 Weber State in a losers’ bracket game Tuesday. The tournament champion earns the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
UNC won tournament titles in 2023 and 2024.
