CHADRON, Neb. - No. 19 Metropolitan State University of Denver won its first regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship since 2011 on Saturday, defeating Colorado Mesa 9-6 and Chadron State 9-7 in Chadron, Nebraska. The Roadrunners finished the regular season 38-12 overall, including 28-6 in the RMAC. They will host the conference tournament beginning on Thursday.
Facing the second-place Mavericks in Game 1, it was a back-and-forth affair for much of the game. CMU led 2-0 after a home run in the top of the first, but MSU Denver scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first to lead.
The Mavericks again scored twice in the second to lead 4-3. In the bottom of the third,
Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) hit a three-run home run down the left field line for a 6-4 lead.
Again, CMU battled back, scoring one in the fourth and one in the sixth to tie the game. In the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners again took advantage of defensive miscues, scoring three more times. Espinoza and
Mary Towner (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) each had run-scoring singles in the inning.
Towner and
Chelsea Brew (Colorado Springs/Rampart H.S.) each finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while Espinoza,
Kaylynn Harmon (Erie, Colo./Erie H.S.) and
Britney Thomas (Cheyenne, Wyo./East H.S.) each had two hits.
Nicole Larsen (Murrieta, Calif./Bloomington H.S.) earned the win, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Against Chadron State, it was a battle of the long ball as the teams combined for eight home runs.
Towner hit the first homer of the game, but CSC answered with a home run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Colissa Bakovich (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) drove in Thomas with a single in the second and Harmon hit a two-run home run in the third for a 4-1 lead.
MSU Denver scored two in the fourth and two in the fifth on RBI singles by
Lani Redmond (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol H.S.) and
Amanda Taney (Conifer, Colo./Conifer H.S.) to lead 8-3.
The Eagles scored four runs on three home runs in the bottom of the seventh force Larsen in to earn her third save.
Kenzie Mattey (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.) earned the win, striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.
Taney had three hits in Game 2 and Redmond, Harmon and Thomas each had two.
