HAYS, Kan. – Having allowed only 13 runs through the first three games of the season, MSU Denver is feeling pretty good about how its pitching staff is coming together.
 
But without any wins to show for it, the Roadrunners are hopeful that the offense is about to bust loose.
 
Fort Hays State kept MSU Denver frustrated with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, winning 5-4 and 4-2.
 
"Another tough day today," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "I'm frustrated for the pitchers, because they've done a tremendous job the first two days."
 
Fort Hays State hit three homers to account for all five of its runs in the first game, then added two more homers that led to its final three runs of the nightcap.
 
"Our pitchers have done everything we've asked them to do," Strain said. "It's been a big emphasis for us to pitch and give ourselves a chance, and they've done that. We've got to figure out a way to get our hitters going and get some big hits in big situations."
 
MSU Denver did come through with some clutch hits in the top of the seventh of the seven-inning opener, as Cade Peters homered and Logan Soole delivered a two-run single to tie the game 4-4. But Fort Hays State answered with a walkoff homer in the bottom half of the inning to end it.
 
Chase Anderson had homered in the sixth to get the Roadrunners on the board.
 
Soole's RBI double in the first inning of the seven-inning second game put MSU Denver ahead, and the first career homer by Andrew Chavez gave the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead in the third. But the Roadrunners could do no further damage.
 
Peters and Zach Walsh each went 3-for-6 for the day, while Soole was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
 
"We battled and put more balls in play today," Strain said. "All three games we've had the winning run or the tying run on base to give us a chance. A hit here or a hit there, it might have been a different outcome. But the bottom line is, we just didn't swing the bats well enough to win the three games.
 
"We'll just have to keep working at it, and it's my job to put our hitters in the right frame of mind to be successful."
 
Gannon Reiswig pitched 4 1/3 innings as the opening-game starter, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Gabe Austin, Brandon Moore and Ty Lightley all had scoreless outings out of the bullpen during the course of the day.
 
"I'm really proud of our pitchers," Strain said.
 
The series concludes Sunday with a single game at 11 a.m.