Grand Junction, Colo. – The Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team defeated Chadron State 7-6 in a quarterfinal game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday, April 29.

MSU Denver got off to a slow start in the game, but scored one run when sophomore catcher Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) scored in the bottom of the third inning on a wild pitch.  MSU Denver was able to take a 1-0.

Chadron State stole the lead with three runs at the top of the sixth inning, making the score 3-1.  The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded when junior Brooke Lovas (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills H.S.) hit a single driving in an RBI.  Junior Liberty Nelson (Frederick, Colo./Frederick H.S.) waked, scoring another run and junior Colissa Backovich hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the third run of the inning, giving the Roadrunners a 4-3 lead.  Junior Cassidy Smith (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) capped off the sixth inning with a two-run double to left-center giving MSU Denver a 6-3 lead.

Chadron State tied the score in the top of the seventh inning and MSU Denver could not score in the bottom of the inning, forcing the game to go to extra innings.  Bakovich hit a triple to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.  Smith hit the game-winning single to right-center field scoring Bakovich and giving the Roadrunners the 7-6 victory.

The Roadrunners will face the winner between Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa on Saturday, April 30 in Grand Junction, Colo.  Game time has not been set for the RMAC Tournament semifinal.  For the latest information regarding schedule changes and weather, be sure to follow RoadrunnersAthletics.com.