LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Lexi Andersen hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning as UCCS overcame a two-run deficit to defeat MSU Denver 4-2 Sunday.
 
The Roadrunners had opened the day with an 8-2 loss at the hands of host New Mexico Highlands.
 
Metropolitan State University of Denver, which had defeated each of those teams on Saturday, dropped to 11-11 overall and 7-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
MSU Denver had opened the day in first place in the RMAC, but still remains in strong position in the league, as all teams have at least two losses.
 
"After yesterday's game, and really all year, we've talked about how many times winning and losing is determined by who shows up that day, by who brings the energy and who wants to compete," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "Today New Mexico Highlands and UCCS competed better and had more energy than us."
 
Highlands, which opened the day in 10^th place, knocked off the first-place team for the second day in a row in the opener – the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs had been unbeaten in league play before falling to the Cowgirls in Saturday's first game.
 
Ashley Forsee hit two homers, including a three-run blast in a six-run third inning, to lead the Cowgirls. Belinda Gonzalez (3-3) was the complete-game winner, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three.
 
"Hats off especially to the Highlands pitcher who pitched well and hit her spots," Van Wetzinga said. "She took advantage of our hitters' approaches to the plate and was very successful."
 
Koryna Wright (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) and Laney Sheppard (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley) each had two of the Roadrunners' five hits.
 
In the second game, Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) (4-5) had taken a three-hit shutout into the sixth before Rayle Glover drew a one-out walk, Taylor Reidhead singled, and Payton Romines drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Andersen homered on a two-ball, one-strike pitch.
 
Sheppard had homered in the third inning to put MSU Denver on top, and then Ashlee Kim's (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0.
 
Sheppard doubled to lead off the seventh inning to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Roadrunners were unable to keep the game alive.
 
"After putting together a number of quality wins together, this was a disappointing day," Van Wetzinga said.
 
MSU Denver plays host to NCAA Division II No. 9 West Texas A&M in a 3 p.m. nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday at the Regency Athletic Complex.