DENVER, Colo. - The No. 13 Metro State softball team rallied to defeat Colorado Mines 9-4 in the semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday at Auraria Field. Metro State will play the winner of Colorado Mines and Mesa State for the championship on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Auraria Field.

With the win, Metro State improved to 39-10 overall, while Colorado Mines dropped to 38-16.

After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, Jennessa Tesone drilled a three-run home run to left field with two outs in the bottom of the first, scoring Amber Roundtree and Kellie Nishikida to go ahead 3-1.

But CSM had a three-run inning of its own in the third as Jackye Lagen ripped a three-run shot to left with two outs to take a 4-3 lead.

That score remained until the bottom of the fifth. Sarah Rusch led off the inning with a single to left-center and Tesone walked to put runners on first and second. Lauren Hainlen then hit into a fielder's choice on a controversial play as Tesone was called out at second base for interference after the Colorado Mines second baseman dropped the ball trying to tag out Tesone. After about a five minute delay as the umpires and coaches sorted things out, Corrie Nishikida walked to load the bases. Danni Hedstrom delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter Jessica Haab ripped a two-run single through the left side, scoring Hainlen and Nishikida. After a strikeout ended the inning, Metro State led 7-4.

Meanwhile, starter Christie Robinson got cruising, pitching a 1-2-3 top of the sixth on just four pitches. The Roadrunners added three more in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff home run by Kellie Nishikida and a two-run home run two batters later by Sarah Rusch. Robinson pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Roundtree, Kellie Nishikida, Rusch and Tesone all had two hits each to lead the team. Robinson improved to 24-4 this season with the win.