Gillette, Wyo.- The Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team splits its double header against Black Hills State on Monday afternoon.  The Roadrunners defeated the Yellow Jackets 15-2 in game one and fell 10-9 in game two of the day.  MSU Denver took the series 3-1 to improve to 27-19 overall and 22-10 in RMAC play.

The Roadrunners got off to a great head start to begin the first game, taking an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
 
MSU Denver quickly extended its lead in the second inning with junior Celyn Whitt (Broomfield, CO/Legacy High School) leading off the inning with a double. Junior Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County H.S.) recorded a single but was able to advance on the throw, advancing Whitt to third. Freshman Koryna Wright (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga High School) then sent the first run of the inning home on a sacrifice fly. Two more runs came from a single hit by senior Kristyn Peters (Lakewood, CO/Dakota Ridge) to give the Roadrunners a 6-0 lead.
 
Pitcher, Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo High School) continued to shut out the Yellow Jackets offense, allowing the Roadrunners to continue to extend the lead.  The team put up one run in the top of the third and three in the top of the fourth off a three run homer from senior Sarena Espinzoa. However, that wouldn't be the end of the scoring in the fourth, the Roadrunners were able to put three more runs up on the Yellow Jackets in the inning.  
 
With a 13-0 lead going into the fifth, Black Hills put two runs up on the Roadrunners on four hits, but that would be the end of the scoring from the Yellow Jackets.  MSU Denver sealed the deal in the top of the fifth scoring two more run on a second home run by Espinoza taking the 15-2 win in five innings.
 
Espinoza recorded seven RBIs in the game and went 2-3 from the plate.  McGhee recorded her 13^th win on the season allowing just two runs on eight hits.  
 
MSU Denver was the first to get the scoring going in game two as well.  Sophomore Megan Sansburn (/Dakota Ridge H.S. ) led off the game with a single to right center, but was then caught out on a fielder's choice.  With Kim on base for the Roadrunners, Wright fired a double to left center to score Kim for the first run of the game. 
 
Following a stolen base from Wright, junior Alyssa Richter (Thornton, Colo./Mountain Range H.S.) was able to score the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly, ending the top of the first ahead 2-0.
 
The Yellow Jackets fought back and were able to even the score at two in the bottom of the first on a two run home run to center field.
 
The Roadrunners regained the lead in the top of the third when Kim reached base from a HBP. Wight would then earn another RBI hitting a double to right center to send Kim home for a 3-2 lead.
 
Black Hills continued the fight and was able to steal the lead drawing two walks when the bases were loaded to take a 4-3 lead over the Roadrunners in the third.
 
The lead would extend to 6-3 after the Yellow Jackets put up one two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Another Espinoza homerun would start a rally for a comeback in the top of the sixth.  Following the single run homer, the Roadrunners went on to score three more runs to take a 7-6 lead.
 
The Roadrunners appeared in control, scoring two more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 9-6 lead going into the final half inning.  However, Black Hills scored two home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, tying the score at nine and sending the game into extra innings.
 
MSU Denver was held scoreless in the top of the eighth while the Yellow Jackets were able to pull off the win, scoring a run to take the 10-9 win.
 
The Roadrunners will host Colorado School of Mines this weekend at the Regency Athletic Complex.