DENVER – In a conference known for its offense playing a sport in college baseball that is already offensive-minded, maybe, just maybe, MSU Denver has found an equalizer.
 
You remember pitching, right?
 
Heading into a four-games series at New Mexico Highlands – an offensive park in an offensive conference in an offensive sport, if ever there was one – the 25^th-ranked Roadrunners have one of the more impressive pitching staffs in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
During an 11-1 start, including 7-1 in the RMAC, MSU Denver is second in the RMAC and 16^th in NCAAA Division II with 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings, and is third in the RMAC in ERA (4.96) and fourth with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.69 to 1.
 
While winning three of four games at CSU-Pueblo last week, Roadrunners starters went 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA, allowing 19 hits in 22 innings, with two walks and 28 strikeouts.
 
"Our pitching was tremendous," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "If you're going to take one (pitching) or the other (hitting), you always take pitching, because if you pitch well you've got a chance. If you don't pitch well, it's difficult to outhit teams all the time.
 
"I'm really pleased with how the guys threw the ball. They kept us in games and gave us a chance to win. If they pitch like that, then we're in every game that we play."
 
Cade Crader is 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA and ranks 10^th in Division II with 18.4 strikeouts per nine innings (30 in 14 2/3) while holding opponents to a .193 batting average. Jimmy Dobrash is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA and has limited foes to a .218 average. Reichle Arcilise, with one career start and three appearances, is 0-1, but with one save and a 1.00 ERA and an opponent batting average of .176. Austin Stone was terrific in his first extended start of the season.
 
Meanwhile, staff co-ace Logan Soole is rounding back into form, as is Gannon Reiswig from last season's rotation.
 
At the back end of the pen, Eric Cox has four saves, tied with two others for the national lead.
 
Those numbers could change for the worse, though, after a visit to Brandt Baseball Field for games Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at noon (doubleheader) and Sunday at noon. And that could be the case no matter how many games the Roadrunners might win.
 
New Mexico Highlands is 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the RMAC. The Cowboys are averaging 8.3 runs per game while giving up 10.9.
 
"High-scoring games are typical there," Strain said. "It's a hitter's ballpark, and they usually have some pretty good hitters. They are always scrappy and play hard and do a great job, especially on the offensive side."
 
Strain was frustrated with an overall lack of offensive production during the CSU-Pueblo series, but Chase Anderson has remained constant. He has started at four different positions (all three outfield spots, plus second base) and has a season-opening 12-game hitting streak.
 
For the season, the Roadrunners' leadoff hitter is batting .417 and ranks third in the RMAC in runs (18), hits (20) and stolen bases (four) and is fourth in doubles (five) and walks (eight).
 
"We moved him to the leadoff spot this year because he's one of our best hitters, he runs well and he draws walks," Strain said. "So we moved him up so we can get him as many at-bats as we can and so that he can set the table for some bigger hitters behind him. He's very versatile and we can play him in different positions based on which other guys are in the lineup."