DENVER – Something that may have been overlooked last weekend as MSU Denver rallied from two games down to get a series split with CSU-Pueblo was the performance of the Roadrunners' bullpen.
 
Five pitchers soaked up 13 innings of relief work, picked up both of the MSU Denver victories, and compiled a 1.38 ERA, allowing just five hits while striking out 15.
 
"Probably one of our biggest strengths is our bullpen," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "That and our ability to play defense gives us a chance to win games. We have a lot of confidence in a lot of guys out of the bullpen. Because of our screwy schedule (multiple weather-related postponements and cancellations), we haven't gotten everyone a ton of work. But they've done a good job and for the most part they are fresh. Hopefully that helps us over the weekend."
 
The MSU Denver schedule has been affected again due to weather, with a four-game series at New Mexico Highlands pushed back by a day, but it is set to go with Saturday's 3 p.m. series opener, a noon doubleheader on Sunday and a noon single game on Monday.
 
MSU Denver enters the series 8-7 overall and is tied for fifth in the RMAC at 2-2. New Mexico Highlands is 7-9 and 0-4.
 
"They're a tough team to play, especially at their place," Strain said. "Usually there isn't much of a crowd so you have to supply your own energy level. And they can swing the bats."
 
That means the Roadrunners' bullpen could be called upon to work through some uncomfortable situations.
 
Last weekend, TJ Egloff (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) pitched three no-hit innings with three strikeouts in a series-opening 3-2 loss, keeping the other relievers fresh. In the second game of the series, Carter Akerfelds (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) pitched two no-hit innings in a similar effort.
 
The Roadrunners turned the tide in the series' third game, which was the back end of a doubleheader, as left-hander Taylor Petersen (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) went 3 1/3 dominant innings for the win, allowing one hit and one walk while recording seven of his 10 outs via strikeouts, six of them swinging.
 
And in Sunday's series finale, John Badgett (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West) pitched 2 2/3 innings for the win (though he gave up two runs, the only runs surrendered by Roadrunners relievers all weekend), and Eric Cox (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail) finished up the 13-5 win with two scoreless, one-hit innings.
 
Strain said that Petersen became a high-level Division I recruit (he spent last season at Louisiana State) as his velocity spiked in junior college. Petersen typically delivers fastballs with velocities in the upper 80s or low 90s.
 
"He put up video-game numbers as a sophomore and that drew the attention of the big schools," Strain said. "But he just didn't get enough opportunities to throw at LSU. "
Strain said Badgett may not have the mid-90s velocity he had a couple of years ago, but he said the right-hander has a strong sense of how to pitch and has developed a changeup to complement a fastball that still touches the low 90s.
 
The relievers have come from far and wide, but they've come together for MSU Denver.
 
Last weekend's mainstays were Egloff, a transfer from NAIA LSU-Shreveport who pitched previously for junior college power Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College; Akerfelds, who transferred back home after a junior college stay at Iowa Western CC; Petersen, who came from LSU; Badgett, who previously pitched at the solid Division I program of Southeastern Louisiana; and Cox, a local product who redshirted last season.
 
Petersen and Cox are expected to get most of the late-inning relief opportunities, while Badgett continues to get more innings. Akerfelds will move into the starting rotation for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, and since he hasn't been stretched out this year, that will be a game where the bullpen will likely be called upon in full force.
 
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners are hoping to make some noise earlier in the series, rather than rallying like last weekend.
 
"We haven't played well out of the gates, and we're hoping to fix that this weekend," Strain said.