Aztec, N.M. – The Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team defeated Fort Lewis by scores of 15-6 and 18-5 in a doubleheader on Saturday. MSU Denver is 16-7 and 10-0 in RMAC play.
The Roadrunners bars came alive early in the day. Junior
Carissa Terry (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View H.S.) hit a grand slam in the top of the first inning to make the score 4-0.
In the second inning, MSU Denver added six more runs. Juniors
Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) and
Kristyn Peters (Lakewood, CO/Dakota Ridge) each had two RBIs in the inning and senior
Cassidy Smith (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) added one of her own. The Roadrunners took a 10-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning. Fort Lewis responded with three runs in the bottom of the second to bring the score to 10-3.
Senior
Colissa Bakovich (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) singled in the top of the fourth inning to drive in sophomore
Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County H.S.). Fort Lewis posted runs in the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the fifth inning to bring the score to 11-5.
Freshman
Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo High School) added to the Roadrunners lead in the top of the sixth inning when she a single to left field and drove in Smith making the score 12-5.
The top of the seventh inning saw Peters add two more RBIs to her stat line and Terry add one to her own. Fort Lewis was able to post a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it would not be enough as MSU Denver picked up the win 15-6.
In the second game of the doubleheader, MSU Denver jumped out to another early lead. Terry crushed a three-run homerun in the top of the first inning.
The Roadrunners blew the game wide open in the second inning. MSU Denver put up eight runs on the scoreboard. Senior
Hayley Fields (Arlington, Wash./Arlington H.S.) singled twice in the inning scoring Bakovich on both occasions. Bakovich tallied three RBIs in the inning when she hit a bases clearing triple. Junior
Annika Anderson (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.), Terry and Smith each added an RBI in the inning. MSU Denver was able to take an 11-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning.
The scoring continued for the Roadrunners in the top of the third inning. Junior
Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.) reached on a double in her first at bat of the inning and later scored on a wild pitch. Freshman
Tes Hass (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) pinch hit for Kim and drove in two runs. Bakovich drove in a run and Kim would score on a wild pitch. Espinoza hit a double in her second at bat of the inning to drive in another run. MSU Denver gave up a run in the bottom of the inning, but led 17-1.
MSU Denver's offense could not be held back in the fourth inning either. Bakovich drove in a run to make the score 18-1. The Roadrunners left the bases loaded to end the inning. The Skyhawks would add four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. No more scoring would happen in the game and the Roadrunners would take away the 18-5 victory.
The Roadrunners tallied a total of 18 runs on 19 hits in the second game. Bakovich was 2-for-3 in the game, driving in a total of five runs and scoring two more.
MSU Denver will face Fort Lewis for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 12 in Aztec, N.M. with first pitch slated for 11 a.m.
