TUCSON, Ariz. – MSU Denver earned two victories Saturday at the Desert Stinger softball tournament, defeating California Collegiate Athletic Association favorite Chico State (Calif.) 8-3 and Central Washington 5-2.
 
The Roadrunners, who lost twice yesterday at the high-level tournament, improved to 5-3 for the season. They wrap up their stay at the Desert Stinger with a noon game Sunday against Western Washington, which received votes in the NFCA Division II National Top 25 preseason poll.
 
"Today was a great turnaround from yesterday's performances," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "Both games were complete team wins. We had much tougher at-bats and found different ways to get on base, which allowed us to use our speed more."


MSU Denver took the lead for good against Chico State in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a squeeze bunt by Alexia Boring that broke a 3-3 tie. True freshman Katie Maney tacked on her second homer of the tournament, a three-run shot, in the sixth to account for the final runs.
 
Destinee Lopez (2-2) pitched 4 2/3 innings for the win, allowing three runs on six hits, and Sarah Norton worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out two, for the save.
 
Norton (2-1) then pitched her second complete game of the tournament, this time getting the win, against Central Washington. She allowed two runs on eight hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.

"We got really good starting pitching and our offense backed them up," Van Wetzinga said. "Getting our bats going definitely helps our pitchers relax and do what they can do."
 
True freshman Hannah DiFabio's two-run homer in the fourth gave the Roadrunners the lead for good at 2-1, Ari Valdez drove in another run in the inning with a single for a 3-1 lead, and MSU Denver tacked on two unearned runs in the sixth.
 
DiFabio is batting a team-best .458 with three homers and seven RBIs for the season, including .417 (5-for-12) at the Desert Stinger.

"Two younger hitters, Katie Maney and Hannah DiFabio, had big at bats in big moments that really propelled us," Van Wetzinga said.


All-American Shelby Robb was 2-for-4 in each game, while Miah Hartivgsen was 2-for-3 in each game while driving in two runs in the opener.

"It was fun to watch our team compete today and play to their potential, and more importantly they played with energy and toughness," Van Wetzinga said. "I hope we can build off today and finish this weekend with a winning record."