Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Metro State swept Colorado Mesa 5-1 and 14-6 (5 innings) on Sunday in Grand Junction, Colo., in softball. The Roadrunners improved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while the preseason favorite Mavericks dropped to 2-8 and 1-3 in the RMAC.

Mary Towner (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) was a combined 6-for-8 with four runs batted in in the two games.

Game One
Cassidy Smith (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) threw a gem for the Roadrunners, tossing all seven innings and scattering seven hits. She walked one and struck out three.

Metro State never trailed in the game as it jumped in front in the top of the first with a two-out single by Kaylynn Harmon (Erie, Colo./Erie H.S.) that scored Susie Oury (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.). After Oury drew a bases loaded walk in the second for a 2-0 lead, CMU scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third.

Smith pitched out of a bases-loaded, nobody out situation in the fourth inning and then cruised through the final three innings, allowing just one hit each inning.

MSU Denver's offense gave her some support in the top of the seventh with three runs aided by two errors and a two-run double by Towner, who finished the game 2-for-4.

Game Two
Towner had a career-high four hits, going 4-for-4 with two run scored and two RBIs to help the Roadrunners to 13 hits and a season-high 14 runs.

Again, Metro State never trailed in the game. The Roadrunners struck for three runs in the top of the first with five singles and a double from Aubree Maul (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain H.S.), sending eight batters to the plate.

After the Mavericks scored twice in the bottom of the first, MSU Denver again scored three times in the top of the second. This time it was the team's patience at the plate, drawing three walks to allow for a two-run double by Kelsey Tillery (Windsor, Colo./Windsor H.S.) and an RBI single by Towner.

A three-run home run by CMU's Jessica Severinsen cut the lead to 6-5 and sent starting pitcher Hailey Eisenhauer (Windsor, Calif./Cardinal Newman H.S.) to the bench, but Maul came in to pitch in relief and dominated for much of the final 2.1 innings. After allowing a solo home run to lead off the fourth, she allowed just one other single and struck out three to earn the victory.

In the top of the fourth, Metro State stretched its lead to 9-5 with three more runs off back-to-back doubles by Towner and Chelsea Brew (Colorado Springs/Rampart H.S.).

The game ended after the fifth inning due to the mercy rule as the Roadrunners pushed five across in the top of the inning. The Mavericks committed three errors and Colissa Bakovich (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) connected on a two-run single in the inning.

Joining Towner with strong performances at the plate were Tillery and Brew, who each had two hits. Both of Tillery's hits were doubles.

Metro State will play its first home games of the season on Saturday against Chadron State.