DENVER – A long layoff, particularly a long in-season layoff, is never a good thing during softball or any other season.
 
Just don't tell Rebecca Gonzales or Destinee Lopez that.
 
The MSU Denver players came off significant down time – 18 days for Gonzales, more than a year for Lopez – to play starring roles in a four-game sweep of New Mexico Highlands last weekend.
 
Gonzales was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week, while Lopez was the RMAC's Pitcher of the Week.
 
They and their Roadrunners teammates will be back at it again – on a normal schedule for once – this weekend with a four-game series against Black Hills State. Doubleheaders at the Regency Athletic Complex are scheduled for noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.


Gonzales came off her break and merely went 8-for-9 in a series-opening doubleheader and went on to an 11-for-15 (.733) weekend. She's third in the league with a .542 batting average.
 
"Great weekend," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "But at the same time, knowing her background, it's not overly shocking. Because when she really locks in, her swing is so consistent, she can do that. She had a series just like that the weekend before we were shut down (in 2020, due to COVID-19). Her best quality is her consistency. Definitely a weekend to celebrate and build off."
 
Lopez, meanwhile, was unavailable to pitch during the team's season-opening four-game series sweep at the hands of Colorado Mesa on Feb. 28 and March 1, so her last appearance in the circle came way back when people were just starting to figure out what COVID-19 was.
 
Lopez made three relief appearances against Highlands, earning the one in win and the save in the other two. She pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing only one run (unearned) on six hits while striking out 10.
 
"She wasn't available our first series against Mesa, and we feel that could have helped us with our other pitchers throwing so many intense pitches the first weekend of the season," Van Wetzinga said.
 
"She's grown so much in that (relief) spot. And I'm not saying she won't get some starts, but she does so well and thrives, whether it's late relief or long relief. And you can have her for two games (in a day). She has really good experience in that role."
 
MSU Denver evened its record at 4-4 last weekend, both overall and in the RMAC.
 
Black Hills State comes in 2-10, both overall and the RMAC.
 
"They always have some hitters who can do damage," Van Wetzinga said. "If you give them free passes and don't take care of the ball, they'll take advantage of it. They can score some runs.
 
"And they have a pitcher who can strike some people out, too. So if you're not focused, not having a good day at the plate, she can kind of control the game."