DENVER – The level of competition stepped up Friday, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver softball team kept stride.
 
The Roadrunners split a doubleheader with Colorado Christian at the Regency Athletic Complex, dropping a hard-fought, 2-1 pitcher's duel in the opener before riding a go-ahead, two-run homer by Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) in the fifth inning of the nightcap for a 7-4 victory.
 
"That's arguably the best team we've played this year, a regional team from last year with quality pitching, and they return almost everyone from last year," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "I'm pretty happy with our effort today."
 
The Roadrunners (9-9 overall, 5-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) trailed 4-3 entering the fifth, but Megan Sansburn (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) singled and eventually scored on an Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) double to tie the game, setting the stage for McGhee.
 
"I was just trying to simplify things in my head," McGhee said. "I told myself to relax and wait on the ball. I was thinking, 'Hit it to right field,' because that helps me wait."
 
She still pulled the ball over the left field wall for her team-high third homer of the year, but no one is complaining about that.
 
"She's in a good place right now," Van Wetzinga said of McGhee, who is batting .397 and leads the team with 19 RBIs. "We were definitely where we wanted to be in the lineup (at that point)."
 
Kylee Burnside (Idaho Falls, Idaho/Skyline) (3-1) picked up the win with 2 1/3 hitless relief innings, retiring all seven batters she faced.
 
"It was nice to see that after a tough loss we responded with energy and focus," Van Wetzinga said. "We came out swinging and good things happened."
 
McGhee, the RMAC's pitcher of the week the past two weeks in a row, was the tough-luck loser and dropped to 3-4 in the opener, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in a complete game.
 
"I thought I was decent," McGhee said. "I did a pretty good job of hitting my spots and keeping us in the game."
 
Said Van Wetzinga: "Darby had a really good outing."
 
Kenzie Mattey (6-3) was a little better for Colorado Christian (10-6, 4-1), allowing only an unearned run on three hits.
 
"We came out strong with the bats, but there were about three innings towards the middle of the game where we just weren't having quality at-bats," Van Wetzinga said. "That was a little frustrating. But our effort, competitiveness and energy were there."
 
Said McGhee: "We played two pretty good games, so I was pretty happy with it. It would've been nice to get two wins, but we played well."