LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Metropolitan State University of Denver baseball team defeated New Mexico Highlands in both sides of a doubleheader by scores of 8-2 and 10-9, respectively, at Brandt Field on Sunday.
 
"It was a big day for us," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "We played really well in the first game, and Logan (Soole) pitched great; it was great to see him get back to himself on the mound. And then obviously, in the second game with the two home runs, he really swung the bat well and had some really good at-bats."
 
"In our bullpen, TJ Egloff (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) came into a tough situation, but was able to battle through it and throw up a couple zeros. And then, watching Taylor Petersen (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) coming in and throwing up some big zeros was huge for us in those situations. But (we had) big wins (against) a very good hitting team. We got down but we battled back and had some very big hits by several different guys and some good quality at-bats, and we got two big wins for us that we needed." 
 
The Roadrunners improved to 11-7 overall and 5-2 for third place in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Cowboys (7-12, 0-7) have lost seven straight and eight of their last nine games.
 
Soole had an excellent performance to cap the doubleheader, going 3-for-3, including two home runs, five RBIs and one walk while scoring three runs.
 
The Roadrunners and Cowboys appeared to be engaged in an offensive seesaw battle early on in the second game.
 
Down 8-4 in the top of the third, the Roadrunners inched their way back into the contest, scoring a run in each of the third and fourth innings before tying the game, 8-8, in the fifth with solo home runs by Matt Malkin (Broomfield, Colo./Monarch) and Zach Walsh (Austin, Texas/Vista Ridge).
 
However, a throwing error in the bottom of the fifth allowed Nico Martinez to break the tie and gave the Cowboys a 9-8 lead.
 
Facing a one-run deficit in the sixth, Soole hit the eventual game-winning two-run homer to right field, which scored Chase Anderson (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) from first after he singled up the middle.
 
Soole also homered to right center to start the day after a single by Anderson to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead over the Cowboys in the top of the first of the doubleheader closer.
 
However, back-to-back RBI singles by Carlos Ramirez and Jared Brown tied the game, 2-2. Ramirez then scored on a fielder's choice, breaking the tie in favor of the Cowboys.
 
Following stolen bases and an error in the second, both Soole and Anderson scored unearned runs to return the lead to the Roadrunners, 4-3.
 
But a five-run effort transpired for the Cowboys in the bottom of the second. Most of those runs came from Justin DeHoog's three-run homer to left field to cap off the frame.
 
Petersen (3-1) earned the win for the Roadrunners, throwing a scoreless 2 2/3 innings while giving up no hits, walking three, and striking out five. He relieved Egloff, who gave up five runs (four earned), seven hits and three walks while striking out four in his 3 1/3 innings of work.
 
J.T. Mossberg (1-1) took the loss the second game's loss to the Roadrunners. Pitching two innings, Mossberg allowed two runs and four hits while striking out two. 
 
The Roadrunners started the day as if Saturday never ended, scoring three runs in the first inning. Anderson knocked a double to left center, which brought home Zach Paschke (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista), who walked to open the game.
 
Anderson's time on base was brief because on the next at-bat, Malkin's homer to right field gave MSU Denver a 3-0 lead. The Roadrunners maintained that lead for the remainder of the game and didn't look back, adding five more insurance runs over the next six innings.
 
MSU Denver last tacked onto its lead in the sixth, when Jake Kistaitis' (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) sacrifice fly to right field allowed  Draven Adame (Lamar, Colo./Lamar) to score and gave the Roadrunners an 8-1 lead.
 
New Mexico Highlands trimmed the deficit by a run, to 8-2, in the bottom of the seventh when Auggie Francis scored on Joe Cilladi's double to right center
 
Playing left field for the Roadrunners, Anderson was pivotal in the Roadrunners' doubleheader-opening victory. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and a stolen base. Anderson also scored two runs.
 
Aaron Germani (Littleton, Colo./ThunderRidge) went 1-for-3 at the plate, also scored a pair of runs.
 
Soole did his job on the mound, throwing a 97-pitch complete game. He allowed only two runs (one earned) and two walks while striking out seven en route to the win. He improved to 2-2 on the year.
 
James Janco (1-3) took the loss. Janco pitched six innings and gave up eight runs (seven earned). He was also had seven walks, a wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch while striking out three.
 
The Roadrunners conclude their series with the Cowboys on Monday. First pitch is set for at noon.