DENVER – MSU Denver's softball program hits the road for the first time this weekend, as the Roadrunners are scheduled to play five games in an event hosted by Dixie State.
 
"All of those teams are going to present challenges and they are quality opponents," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "But, similar to what we saw this past weekend, it's more about what we're going to bring to the field each game."
 
The Roadrunners went just 1-4 last weekend, winning only their final game. But MSU Denver outhit its opponents .296 to .216 and compiled a superior ERA of 3.00 to 4.44.
 
"We ended positively, and we want to build on it," Van Wetzinga said. "We don't want to start our next tournament talking about the same frustrations. So we want to focus on moving forward."
 
The trip will be challenging. On Thursday, the Roadrunners face Central Washington at 10 a.m. and Western Washington at 3 p.m., while Friday's schedule includes a 12:30 p.m. game with Hawaii-Hilo and a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Northwest Nazarene (Idaho). On Saturday, MSU Denver plays Montana State-Billings at 10 a.m.
 
"St. George is a very nice town, and they have a very nice facility," Van Wetzinga said. "It's a long drive, but it's drive-able. They run a quality tournament. And they are able to draw good competition. We get to see different teams and play quality opponents."
 
Central Washington (31-16 last year) and Northwest Nazarene (31-23) shared the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title last season at 19-9, the third straight season that Central Washington has at least shared the league title. But Northwest Nazarene won the postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament.
 
Northwest Nazarene, picked to win the league, has 17 players back from last season, including 10 position-player starters and all four of its pitchers. Central Washington is picked to finish second in the GNAC.
 
Western Washington, meanwhile, was just 15-32 overall and 7-19 in the GNAC, but is picked to finish fourth this season. Montana State-Billings is picked seventh in the GNAC after going 23-24 overall and 13-13 in league play.
 
Hawaii-Hilo is picked to finish fourth in the Pacific West Conference, led by the league's preseason player of the year in utility player Brinell Kalekini. The Vulcans were 31-15 overall and 19-9 in the PacWest last season.
 
So far this year, Montana State-Billings is 3-1, Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene are both 2-1, and Western Washington and Hawaii-Hilo are both 1-2.
 
MSU Denver got plenty of fine performances in its opening weekend, most notably from Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player of the week Rebecca Gonzales (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista), the freshman center fielder who hit .500 (10 for 20), with league highs in hits, doubles (four) and stolen bases (three) while adding six RBIs.
 
Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) didn't win either player or pitcher of the week, but had arguably the RMAC's best overall performance, hitting a league-best .643 (9 for 14) with two doubles, one homer and two RBIs while compiling a 1.91 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.
 
Gonzales and McGhee share the RMAC lead in total bases (14).
 
"We need to get some other girls going offensively – get them where they are capable of being," Van Wetzinga said.
 
Van Wetzinga had 14 different players start at least one game in the lineup over the weekend, and used all four of her pitchers – including Kylee Burnside (Idaho Falls, Idaho/Skyline), who pitched a three-hit shutout for the Roadrunners' lone win.
 
"I still think there's a really good chance we're going to try different combinations," Van Wetzinga said. "Part of that is that we still have to figure some things out, but we also have a lot of girls who are capable of good things and we have to give them opportunities. They're working hard. And when you are capable, and you're working hard, you should get opportunities."