DENVER - Metropolitan State University of Denver swept a doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands on Friday, winning 3-2 in 11 innings and 7-4 at The Regency Athletic Complex. The Roadrunners improved to 14-13 overall and 9-9 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while NMHU fell to 13-15 and 7-11.
MSU Denver got strong pitching performances in both games.
Kris Lalk (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain H.S.) pitched 8 1/3 innings in Game 1, allowing one earned run and striking out seven.
Ryan Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) came on in relief with 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out two to pick up the win.
Mike Thill (Littleton, Colo./Columbine H.S.) limited the Cowboys to seven hits and three earned runs in a seven-inning complete game in Game 2, while striking out eight.
The Roadrunners took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by
Darryl Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) that scored
Mitch Gibbons (Franktown, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.).
Leading 1-0 heading into the ninth, things unraveled briefly for the Roadrunners. Lalk opened the inning with a strikeout, but allowed a one-out double to E.J. Stanton. Andrew Ratterman then tied the game with a single to right, but moved to second on an error. With two outs, Gibbons dropped a fly ball in center field, allowing Ratterman to score the go-ahead run.
MSU Denver regrouped in the bottom of the inning. After
Jeff Levett (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) was hit by a pitch to lead off, Gibbons moved him to second with a bunt and
Trent Maloney (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County H.S.) then drove him in to tie the game with a ground-rule double to center.
In the bottom of the 11th, it was the Roadrunners' turn to take advantage of errors to win the game. Levett led off by reaching on a throwing error. After advancing to second on another error, he scored from second base on a fielder's choice on a failed double-play attempt.
Maloney finished with two of the team's five hits.
The offense was key in Game 2. Maloney drove in a run in the first inning with a single to score Levett. MSU Denver added two in the second, highlighted by a triple by
Alex Walker (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge H.S.) and run-scoring singles by
Jake Thurston (Centennial, Colo./Grandview H.S.) and Levett.
Baca led off the third with a towering home run to left field after the Cowboys pushed a run across in the top of the inning.
Maloney led off the fifth with a double and scored on a throwing error after stealing third. Each team scored twice in the sixth.
Levett and Maloney each had two hits in Game 2.
The two teams will play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday.
