Box Score Grand Junction, Colo.- The Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team defeated CSU-Pueblo 7-1 in the opening game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday, April 28.

In a game that was delayed due to weather, MSU Denver jumped out to an early lead against the ThunderWolves. The Roadrunners worked the bases loaded and manufactured runs off CSU-Pueblo's starter, capped off by a two-out RBI single from junior Brooke Lovas (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills H.S.) to put the Roadrunners ahead 4-0 after the first inning.

Sopohomore catcher Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) added to the lead with an RBI single in the second to put the Roadrunners up 5-0 and chase the starting pitcher out of the game. Espinoza would tack on another RBI in the seventh to put the Roadrunners up 7-0 to complete her 2-for-2 day at the plate.

Junior Cassidy Smith (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) stole the show both on the mound and at the plate. Smith pitched all seven innings, allowing just one run in the seventh, while striking out six batters. She helped her cause at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base.

Junior center fielder Colissa Bakovich (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) was awarded the RMAC co-defensive player award before the game and went on to account for three runs for the Roadrunners in the win.

The Roadrunners will next face the three-seed Chadron State tomorrow, April 29 at 1 p.m. to advance to RMAC tournament semifinals in the double elimination bracket in Grand Junction, Colo. For the latest information regarding schedule changes and weather, be sure to follow RoadrunnersAthletics.com.