LAS VEGAS, N.M. – MSU Denver moved into first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a pair of wins Saturday.
 
The Roadrunners started on a strong note, rolling past UCCS 9-2 before taking care of host New Mexico Highlands 11-1 in a game shortened to six innings due to the eight-run rule.
 
MSU Denver (11-9 overall, 7-1 RMAC) has won nine of its last 10 games. Four teams, including UCCS are right behind the Roadrunners with only two league losses.

"Even though we got two wins today, tomorrow is a new day so our focus is to start game one with the same energy so we can set the tone early," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "A good goal for us would be to increase our quality at-bats up and down the lineup."
 
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (11-10 overall, 7-2 RMAC) had entered the weekend undefeated in league play and in first place, but the Mountain Lions were surprised by Highlands 10-1 in the opening game of the day, which was shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.

Against the Mountain Lions, MSU Denver bounced back from an early one-run deficit, then broke through in the fourth inning.

"We were able to start out strong offensively each game, which is always nice," Van Wetzinga said. "It was especially important in the first game because we answered back with a run in the bottom of the first after they had scored in the top half."

Jasmine Wessel's (Thornton, Colo./Horizon) homer to left center broke a 2-2 tie and kick-started a four-run fourth inning that lifted the Roadrunners to victory. Rebecca Gonzales (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) added a run-scoring single, Darby McGhee (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) had an RBI double, and Koryna Wright (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) added a run-scoring single in the pivotal inning.

"That definitely sparked us offensively," Van Wetzinga said of Wessel's homer. "She had been working on some adjustments to see the ball better. She got her pitch and put a great swing on it."
 
McGhee (4-4) pitched her sixth complete game of the season, allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four and taking her ERA down to 1.99. The junior starred at the plate as well, going a combined 5 for 8 for the day with three doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored. McGhee is hitting .424 for the season with a team-best 23 RBIs.
 
Wessel, meanwhile, was 4 for 7 on the day with three doubles and five RBIs.
 
Julia Heitz (Queen Creek, Ariz./Queen Creek) (4-3) pitched a complete-game victory – her fifth – in the nightcap, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Heitz has an ERA of 2.94.

"I don't think Darby or Julia were at their sharpest, but they were able to execute pitches when it mattered, stay steady, and our defense made plays behind them," Van Wetzinga said.
 
Gonzales had three hits and two RBIs in the opener, while Wessel added an RBI double to finish with a pair of runs driven in, and JJ Sheppard (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley) went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Gonzales is hitting a team-best .435, while Sheppard is at .429.
 
In the second game, McGhee and Celyn Whitt (Broomfield, Colo./Legacy) were both 3 for 4 – McGhee had two doubles and three RBIs. Ashlee Kim (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) was 2 for 3 and scored three runs, while Wessel was 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI.
 
The Roadrunners face the same two teams tomorrow, playing New Mexico Highlands (2-9, 2-5) at 10 a.m. and then UCCS at noon.