DENVER – Ninth-ranked West Texas A&M stopped by the Regency Athletic Complex for a doubleheader Tuesday against MSU Denver.
 
Wins of 10-1 and 14-3, with both games shortened due to the eight-run rule, showed why the Lady Buffs are considered strong candidates to return for the Division II College World Series at the RAC from May 23 through 27.
 
Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said it was also a chance for her team to see what it takes to compete at Division II's highest level.
 
"If you're not sharp, not mentally and physically checked in, it can get ugly against a quality team," she said.
 
But there were strong moments, particularly in a first game that was tied 1-1 through four innings, for the Roadrunners to build upon heading into this weekend's four-game home series with defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Colorado Mesa.
 
"Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) threw a heck of a game until that one inning," Van Wetzinga said.
 
McGhee (4-6) had allowed just one unearned run on three hits through four innings against one of the best offenses in Division II. The Lady Buffs are second in the country with an average of 1.74 home runs per game, including a national-record 10 in one game on Feb. 16, and they needed only four innings to do it that day.
 
But a couple of misplays behind McGhee contributed to the start of a six-run fifth inning.
 
"West Texas is a really good team," Van Wetzinga said. "We would've had to have been really sharp and do things well in all aspects of the game. But at the same time, it shouldn't have been that ugly. We had moments defensively, mental lapses and not making plays. When you do that against a team that can swing it like that, that's when the floodgates open."
 
The Roadrunners managed a total of 10 hits through the two games, including three each by McGhee and catcher Jasmine Wessel (Thornton, Colo./Horizon).
 
"We need to respond better on offense," Van Wetzinga said. "When you're going against a team like that, we need to square up more balls. Our timing wasn't there. Our attack wasn't there. Ultimately our pitchers need us to fight, not just defensively, but on the offensive side, too. We have to give our pitchers some help."