DENVER – Night baseball against both an NCAA Division I opponent and a nationally-ranked Division II foe highlight MSU Denver's five-game baseball slate over the next seven days.
 
"It's a big week," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "It should be a fun week. It'll be fun to play a night game. Hopefully we'll get a good crowd. It'll be fun to play against UNC again. I'm sure they'll be ready to play. I'm sure our guys will be, too."
 
The Roadrunners (26-14) play host to Division I Northern Colorado (8-25) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
Then comes the weekend series with Colorado Mesa, which starts with a 6 p.m. game Friday at which both the baseball and softball teams will hold Military Appreciation Day with post-game fireworks. The baseball series with Colorado Mesa continues with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
 
Colorado Mesa (34-8 overall, 22-6 and first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) was ranked No. 7 nationally before winning three of four this past weekend against New Mexico Highlands.
 
MSU Denver is in third place in the RMAC at 19-9.
 
"Mesa is leading our conference and has won as many (conference titles) in a row as it has (six)," Strain said. "It'll be a good challenge for us."
 
But first comes Northern Colorado. The Roadrunners won a March meeting in Greeley 17-6, as Matt Malkin went 5-for-6 with two homers and six RBIs to lead a 15-hit attack.
 
The Roadrunners expect to once again field primarily their normal lineup while piecing the mound work together among several relievers. One exception will be that Zach Sundine, who started and pitched three innings in the first meeting, isn't likely to throw since he has moved into the Roadrunners' weekend rotation.
 
"It'll be a little different than the first time because of our depth," Strain said. "We've had some injuries and some other things going on."