DENVER – The MSU Denver baseball team, most likely, will play its first road games of the season this weekend.
 
While weather is a factor – and there is a possibility the series will be shifted to MSU Denver's Assembly Athletic Complex – the plan for now is for a four-game series at Emporia State (Kan.). The series is scheduled for a single game Friday at 1 p.m. MST, a 2 p.m. MST doubleheader Saturday and a noon MST single game on Sunday. That could change as Emporia State works to clear its field of snow.
 
But what isn't changing yet are the teams' records.
 
Emporia State is 4-3, while MSU Denver is 3-3.
 
Emporia State, picked to finish seventh in the solid Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, split a four-game series with CSU-Pueblo, one of the Roadrunners' Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rivals, last weekend.
 
"They've always been good," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "They're another solid team."
 
MSU Denver opened the season by going 1-2 against Minot State (N.D.) before bouncing back to win two of three against Central Oklahoma, picked to finish fourth in the MIAA.
 
Not bad, but internally the Roadrunners – picked third in the RMAC – were hoping for a little better.
 
"The frustrating part of it is that, offensively, we have a lot of depth, but we've had a couple of spots where we haven't done what we're capable of doing," Strain said. "So that's made it a little more difficult. But those guys are still talented. They just have to get themselves going a little bit.
 
"If we get a couple more bats going, it'll be even better."
 
Big early innings by opponents have spelled doom for MSU Denver in its losses.
 
"We've made some mistakes and given up some big innings," Strain said. "Sometimes it's been our position players not making plays, and sometimes we haven't finished off hitters and have given up way too many two-strike hits."
 
MSU Denver's new starting rotation has included a quality start from Reichle Arcilise and several good innings from Tyler Phillips. As Austin Stone works his way back to full-time starter status and other new options develop, the Roadrunners are hoping to take advantage of a strong bullpen led by closer Eric Cox and setup man Conner Nantkes.
 
"If we can get through those first five innings without making mistakes, and get our hitters going, we're in really good shape," Strain said. "Our bullpen is a strength of our team."
 
While the offense looks to start clicking on all cylinders, All-American third baseman Bill Ralston is off to a red-hot start. Through six games he's batting .444 (12-for-27) with five homers and 12 RBIs.
 
"He's a better player this year than he was last year," Strain said. "He's more physical. He's bigger. He's worked hard and he's swinging the bat well."