DENVER – In a high-scoring offensive affair, Sioux Falls struck last Friday night to earn a season-opening 9-5 softball victory over Metropolitan State University of Denver.
"We've got a lot of stuff to build off, especially offensively," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We left a lot of people on base, which is both good and bad. We did the hard part – putting people on base, putting pressure on them. I like, for the most part, where we are offensively."
The Roadrunners banged out 10 hits, but did leave 10 runners on base, including leaving the sacks packed in both the third and fifth innings.
MSU Denver led 4-2 after four innings and, after giving up three runs in the top of the fifth, tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth.
But Sioux Falls pulled away in the top of the sixth, scoring the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice and then getting a pinch-hit, two-run double by Emily Cheloha for an 8-5 lead. Emmie Uitts added a solo homer in the seventh for the Cougars' final run that gave Shannon Pivovar a victory in her head-coaching debut.
"We've got to limit the big innings," said Van Wetzinga, whose team gave up a pair of three-run innings. "The pitchers have to keep the ball in the park more (Sioux Falls hit two homers), and we can't give up so many freebies (six walks and two errors). The two big innings were sparked by some bad defensive plays behind our pitchers."
Celyn Whitt (Broomfield, Colo./Legacy) hit three hits for MSU Denver, and
Rebecca Gonzales (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) and
Jasmine Wessel (Thornton, Colo./Horizon) each had two. Gonzales singled and doubled in her Roadrunners debut.
"Rebecca is a freshman, but we put her in the 2-hole (in the lineup)," Van Wetzinga said. "She's been really consistent for us through fall ball and in practice. So carries herself very maturely for a freshman. So it was nice to see her have those moments out here. Hopefully she can continue to build off that and be a spark for us."
Trailing 1-0, MSU Denver rallied for three runs in the bottom of the second.
Alyssa Richter (Thornton, Colo./Mountain Range) walked, then scored on Wessel's double to right center. Then Whitt tripled, scoring pinch-runner
Alexus Spinks (Westminster, Colo./Pomona), and Whitt scored on the play after an errant throw to third.
The Roadrunners tacked on a fourth-inning run for a 4-2 lead as
Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) stroked a two-out double and scored as Gonzales reached on an error.
After Sioux Falls' big fifth inning, MSU Denver tied the game in the bottom of the frame as singles by Richter, Wessel and Whitt produced a run.
Courtney Matthews picked up the victory with three innings of relief, working around five hits and a walk while giving up just one run.
Reliever
Kylee Burnside (Idaho Falls, Idaho/Skyline) took the loss.
"If we get a key hit or two and clean up the defense, I think it's a different story," Van Wetzinga said.
MSU Denver is back in action at the Regency Athletic Complex on Saturday, facing the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs at 11 a.m. and then squaring off with Sioux Falls again at 3 p.m.
UCCS and Sioux Falls will play one another at 1 p.m.
The Roadrunners wrap up the weekend at home Sunday, playing Sioux Falls at 11 a.m. and UCCS at 3 p.m.
