DENVER – The reason MSU Denver's Laney Sheppard is leading NCAA Division II in RBIs is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
 
In other words, the Roadrunners' top three hitters in the order are seemingly on base and typically in scoring position nearly every time Sheppard has come to the plate through the first 10 games of the season. Then Sheppard drives them home.
 
The talented trio of tablesetters include leadoff hitter Rebecca Gonzales, No. 2 hitter Megan Sansburn and the No. 3 hitter, Olivia Dampier.
 
And while Sheppard has earned National Player of the Week honors for her exploits this past weekend as the Roadrunners went 5-0 at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic, it's Gonzales who has gotten the nod as MSU Denver's Student-Athlete of the Week.
 
After all, Sheppard got the MSU Denver award last week.
 
"It's been awesome," Gonzales said. "We all believe in each other, and if I don't get on, then hopefully Megan gets on, or Olivia will, and Laney will bring them home. Really, down the whole lineup we have a good hitting team."
 
Gonzales' numbers last week are equally impressive when compared to Sheppard's.

She batted .529 last week (9-for-17) while scoring 11 runs. She also came up big in the Roadrunners' fourth game, a come-from-behind win against Western Washington, as she had a game-tying homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and a two-out, game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
 
"Before the home run I had struck out, so I felt like I needed to redeem myself," Gonzales said. "I was more focused and I made a few adjustments."
 
Said MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga: "I think that all has to do with her never getting too high or too low. She'll strike out, like everybody, but you would never know that the next time she comes to the plate. She has this calm confidence about her.
 
"When you're steady like that, both physically and mentally, it helps you to be a clutch hitter. Nothing is too big."
 
Gonzales set MSU Denver freshman records last season with 69 hits and 20 doubles. But, despite her obvious extra-base ability, she didn't hit any home runs.
 
This year, she already has two.
 
"She's gotten stronger in the weight room for sure," Van Wetzinga said. "And then she probably has more confidence, and when you have confidence you swing the bat harder. You can tell she's all-in on her swings."
 
Said Gonzales: "I'm definitely stronger, and I've got faster bat speed. And I changed my bat. It's one ounce heavier than the one I used last year, and that makes a difference."
 
So far this season, Gonzales is batting .469 (15-for-32) and has scored 17 runs. Batting second, Sansburn is at .433 with three homers and 12 RBIs. Dampier is batting a team-best .500, with two homers and 16 RBIs.
 
So it's little wonder that batting .483 has helped Sheppard drive in a Division II-leading 23 runs.
 
Twice this year Gonzales has reached base to lead off the first inning and Sansburn has followed with a homer to give the Roadrunners two quick runs.
 
Old-timers may recall the 1984 Chicago Cubs' "daily double" of Bobby Dernier and Ryne Sandberg at the top of the order. Gonzales and Sansburn are carving out their own niche in Division II softball.
 
"We call ourselves, 'The Duo,'" Gonzales said, laughing.
 
The Duo, the first four hitters, the rest of the lineup, the defense and the pitching staff will all get a supreme challenge on Friday as top-ranked, defending national champion Augustana (S.D.) comes to the Regency Athletic Complex for a noon doubleheader.
 
MSU Denver is 8-2 thus far, its best 10-game start to a season since going 9-1 during its 53-6 season of 2010.
 
Augustana returns to the scene of its title, since MSU Denver played host to the Division II World Series last May.
 
"We've been playing some quality opponents, and now we're going to be playing one of the top ones, the top one," Van Wetzinga said. "And it wasn't just a one-year deal, they are always good. They have a really good coach and they know how to win.
 
"This will be a great test for us. I'm interested to see how we respond to it."