Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team opened up its 2018 home season on Saturday, February 17 against Montana State- Billings. The Roadrunners are now 4-8 overall.
Senior
Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo High School) got start the mound in game one for the Roadrunners and was able to force a quit three out inning in the top of the first.
Senior
Kristyn Peters (Lakewood, CO/Dakota Ridge) got the day rolling in the bottom of the inning, hitting one out of the park for a two-run homer.
After a scoreless second inning for both sides, the Yellow Jackets were able to cut the lead to 2-1, scoring an unearned run in the top of the third. The Roadrunners got out of the inning allowing just one run and forcing MSU-Billings to leave two on base.
MSU Denver answered back in the bottom of the third. Junior
Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County H.S.) batted second in the inning and was able to reach base on a single. McGhee would follow hitting a double to score Kim and extend the Roadrunners lead to 3-1.
The Roadrunners had the upper hand in the fourth as well. Although they allowed one run in the top of the inning, they answered back scoring two of their own in the bottom of the inning. Kim and sophomore Tes Haas earned an RBI allowing the Roadrunners to take a 5-2 lead heading into the fifth.
A single home run would lead off the top of the fifth for the Yellow Jackets to cut the lead to 5-3. The Roadrunners held the Yellow Jackets to just one run, and forced three to be left on base.
The score would remain 5-3 through the rest of the game with the McGhee and the Roadrunners defense coming up big with a combined five runners being left on the base for the Yellow Jackets in the sixth and seventh inning.
McGhee pitched seven innings to earn the win in game one.
Freshman
Destinee Lopez (La Verne, Calif. /Bonita H.S.) got the start on the mound in game two of the day.
The score was scoreless through the second inning with the Yellow Jackets making it up on the board in the third scoring two runs to take the 2-0 lead.
The Roadrunners were unable to answer back in the bottom of the third and a two run home run and a single RBI would put MSU-Billings up 5-0 in the top of the fourth.
The score remained in favor of MSU-Billings through the fifth with neither side putting up a run.
With the Yellow Jackets up 6-0 heading into the final inning the Roadrunners had a final crack at it. Freshman
Koryna Wright (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga High School) gave the Roadrunners a spark hitting a three-run bomb out of the park to cut the lead to 6-3 with one out in the final inning.
Despite a strong effort the Roadrunners were unable to convert in the final inning with MSU-Billings taking the 6-3 win.
The Roadrunners will travel to CSU-Pueblo to begin RMAC play next weekend with the first games to take place on Saturday, February 24.