GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Christian scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning but still had to hold off one last courageous effort by MSU Denver before securing a 9-7 victory Thursday in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
The second-seeded Roadrunners (29-10), playing short-handed, began rallying from a 9-5 deficit in the bottom of the seventh as Olivia Dampier walked and scored on a one-out double by Kayla Banks. Then pinch-runner Julia Heitz scored on a double by Haley Doughty.
 
Colorado Christian turned to its third pitcher of the inning, Sydney Rawlings, who walked Whitnee Alexander. The runners moved up on a ground out by Kassi Regier before Rawlings secured the final out.
 
MSU Denver drops into the loser's bracket to face fifth-seeded Regis in an 11 a.m. elimination game on Friday.
 
"I'm extremely proud of the way our team fought and battled tonight," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "With what this team has been through, I can't stress enough how proud of them I am, and I can't wait to see them continue to fight tomorrow."
 
The Roadrunners never trailed until Colorado Christian forged in front in the seventh.
 
Doughty hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second as part of a 3-for-4, three-RBI night. The Roadrunners added another unearned run in the inning.
 
After Colorado Christian tied the game 2-2, MSU Denver got two more unearned runs in the third.
 
Doughty's RBI double in the fifth put the Roadrunners in front 5-4.
 
"Haley Doughty has been a solid for us all year as a pinch hitter and part time starter so it was great to see her in particular step with big at-bats and big defensive plays," Van Wetzinga said. "We had players coming up with big at-bats up and down the lineup."