DENVER – Pitching and defense? Check.
Now MSU Denver is ready for the offense to come around.
The Roadrunners' softball team dropped a season-opening doubleheader Sunday against Colorado Mesa, falling 3-0 and 2-1 at the Regency Athletic Complex.
It was an out-of-the-chute showdown between two of the three teams that shared first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last year at 10-2 and teams picked to finish first (MSU Denver) and third (Colorado Mesa) in the league this season.
"If you can't produce consistently at the plate and string good at-bats together, it's going to be hard," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "It's fair to say we underperformed at the plate, compared to the ability we have, especially with the experience we have on our team.
"We've got to get them going and get them in a little bit of a rhythm."
MSU Denver's only run came in the second inning of the second game.
Freshman
Shelby Robb reached on an error, moved to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a single by
Whitnee Alexander before scoring on the back end of a double steal (Alexander was thrown out on the play).
"We were just pressing, trying to do too much, maybe being too excited about it being the beginning of the season," Van Wetzinga said. "Credit to their pitchers, because they did what they do well – they hit spots and they kept the ball low.
"As an offense, you have to stay within yourself, because they want you to pound the ball into the ground. I think we were just getting a little too big at the plate, trying to do too much rather than working to our strengths – gap-to-gap hitting and then letting our speed take over."
While Colorado Mesa's Paige Adair twirled a five-hit shutout in the opener, Ellie Smith was strong in the second game as well, allowing only one unearned run on seven hits.
MSU Denver's pitchers matched them nearly pitch-for-pitch.
Darby McGhee is a tough-luck 0-2 after pitching a complete game in the opener and then taking the loss in relief in game two as Colorado Mesa was down to its last out before scoring the tying and winning runs.
"Darby did what we expect her to do," Van Wetzinga said. "Was she perfect? No. Did she give up some hits? Yeah. But she just has a steady, mature presence in the circle and she's not going to get rattled. You can count on her to keep us in the game."
Kayla Banks got the second-game start and pitched around 11 hits – 10 of them singles – in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
"Kayla scattered some hits, but then when we needed to get a ground ball, we got a ground ball," Van Wetzinga said.
Robb and Alexander each went 3-for-6 for the day, accounting for half of the Roadrunners' 12 hits.
"Our pitchers executed pitches when it really mattered, in the big moments," Van Wetzinga said. "And our defense stepped up when it really mattered. We weren't picture-perfect, but when it mattered, we made plays for the most part.
"We need that momentum and confidence to carry over to the offensive side."
The teams complete the series with a doubleheader Monday at 11 a.m.
