CHADRON, Neb. - No. 19 Metropolitan State University of Denver is within two wins of clinching the regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship after defeating Chadron State 5-1 and Colorado Mesa 6-3 in nine innings on Friday in Chadron, Nebraska. The Roadrunners broke a tie with CMU for first place and improved to 35-11 overall and 26-6 in the RMAC.

Kaylynn Harmon (Erie, Colo./Erie H.S.) drilled a three-run home run in the first inning vs. Chadron State and Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) added a solo shot and a bunt, run-scoring single to provide the offense. Kenzie Mattey (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.) held the Eagles to five hits and one run in seven innings.

In the second game against CMU, Espinoza drove in Lani Redmond (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol H.S.) in the first inning, but the Mavericks scored twice in the bottom of the inning to lead 2-1.

A sacrifice fly by Susie Oury (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) tied the game in the fifth, but again CMU took back a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.

The Roadrunners pushed across an unearned run in the sixth to tie the game 3-3 and that score remained into the ninth inning. With two outs, Oury crushed a home run for a 4-3 lead and Harmon hit a two-run home run after a walk to Mary Towner (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) for a 6-3 lead.

Mattey pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three to earn the win. Cassidy Smith (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) gave up two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four.

The three teams will play each other again on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.