DENVER – MSU Denver kept the hits and runs to itself Sunday and moved into a share of first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
MSU Denver pitchers allowed a total of three hits all day, and the Roadrunners flexed their offensive muscle in wins of 11-0 over New Mexico Highlands and 14-0 over host Regis. Both games were stopped after five innings due to the eight-run rule.
 
"Today and this weekend was really a total team effort," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "I'm really proud of how the team is competing and playing together."

By extending its winning streak to eight games, MSU Denver improved to 18-6 overall. The Roadrunners moved into a tie for first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with both Colorado Christian and Colorado Mesa at 10-2.
 
The winning streak is the best for the program since a 14-game run in 2017.
 
Destinee Lopez (6-3) shut down Highlands on one hit while pitching the first four innings of that win, and then Darby McGhee (5-1) got her second win of the weekend and her fourth straight complete-game win, with a two-hitter that included five strikeouts.
 
"We had more walks than I would like today, but the pitchers worked around them and did a great job of pitching with runners on base," Van Wetzinga said.

To support the pitchers, the Roadrunners shared the wealth up and down the lineup in blasting out 24 hits over two games.
 
"With the way our offense showed up today, it took a ton of pressure off the pitchers as well," Van Wetzinga said. "It's much easier to pitch with a lead."
 
Rebecca Gonzales completed her sublime weekend by going 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBIs and a double while also drawing three walks. In four games over two days she went 9-for-13 (.692) with two doubles, a triple, a homer, five RBIs and six runs.
 
Not to be overshadowed, Laney Sheppard was 3-for-3 with a homer and seven RBIs Sunday while also drawing two walks. For the weekend Sheppard was 6-for-9 and had 10 RBIs. She entered the weekend ranked sixth in Division II with seven homers (the leader had eight) and second in RBIs with 31 (the leader had 34). She now has eight homers and 41 RBIs.
 
But there was plenty more offense for MSU Denver.
 
McGhee was 3-for-5 with two RBIs to complete a 6-for-12, four-RBI weekend. Olivia Dampier was 2-for-6 with four RBIs and two stolen bases – she had swiped two bags Saturday as well after entering the weekend with a league-leading nine.
 
Megan Sansburn and Ari Valdez each had a two-hit game against Regis.
 
And Kassi Reiger blasted her first career homer in the Regis game. Reiger was 3-for-3 for the day.
 
MSU Denver beat the same teams Saturday, holding off Regis 4-3 in the opener before beating Highlands 9-2. Regis dropped to 10-10 overall and 7-4 in the RMAC, while Highlands is 2-22 and 1-11.
 
The Roadrunners return home to face Chadron State in a four-game series that starts with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.