DENVER – Finally, the hits are coming for the MSU Denver softball team.
 
After breaking out at New Mexico Highlands in a four-game series on March 19 and 20, the Roadrunners kept it up last weekend in a sweep of Black Hills State that extended their winning streak to eight games.
 
"I feel like we're starting to get some more girls going offensively," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "That was nice to see. Olivia (Dampier) had a nice weekend, Ari (Valdez) had a really nice weekend, Haley (Doughty) has really turned a corner and looks comfortable in the box, Mackenzie Jamieson, too."
 
The Roadrunners will seek to keep it going in six games this week, a home doubleheader at noon Wednesday against Nebraska-Kearney and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheaders Friday at noon and Saturday at 11 a.m. at Chadron State.
 
"It's been an up-and-down, start-and-stop season, and that makes it hard to get into rhythm, but we have players who are starting to do that," Van Wetzinga said. "We're really close to clicking, close to getting where we feel we should be consistently."
 
Dampier was 7-for-11 with three RBIs and three stolen bases last weekend, while Valdez was 7-for-13 with two stolen bases and four RBIs – including a walkoff single in the second game of the series. Doughty and Jamieson each had clutch homers.
 
Meanwhile Shelby Robb continued her season-long hot hitting, going 7-for-12 with three RBIs. She's hitting a team-best .514 to rank third in the RMAC.
 
"For a freshman to be that consistent, it's been really impressive," Van Wetzinga said. "She been very consistent in practice, all the way back to the fall. She's really steady, and reminds me of how Rebecca (Gonzales) was as a freshman (in 2019)."
 
Meanwhile Darby McGhee pitched in all four games, flirting with a no-hitter in both of her starts, earning a relief win and nearly qualifying for a save while closing out the season finale.
 
"I wasn't planning or wanting to use her that much, but it happens sometimes," Van Wetzinga said. "Different players are 'the person' at different times. At Highlands it was Destinee (Lopez) who gave us big innings. All of our pitchers are capable. Sometimes it's just matchups. Darby did a great job of handling it, and dominated their hitters for the most part. It was something we really needed."
 
Nebraska-Kearney is 9-13 for the season.
 
"They've got some girls with some power," Van Wetzinga said. "They've been putting up some runs, and they have about four different arms they can throw at you."
 
Chadron State is 7-13 overall and 7-9 in the RMAC.
 
"It's a tough place to play," Van Wetzinga said. "We have to be ready. That's another team where maybe the batting averages don't stick out, but they have some power, girls who can drive the ball out of the park. Once again, our pitchers need to be sharp."