DENVER – Talk about a turnaround.
 
MSU Denver bounced back from a rough 11-2 loss in a game that ended in five innings due to the eight-run rule on Sunday to win a hard-fought, 8-7 decision in the nightcap at the Assembly Athletic Complex to earn a non-conference softball split against St. Edward's (Texas).
 
"I'm proud of our team because what we did isn't easy to do," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We got it handed to us the first game. And to be able to come back and have that energy, focus and competitiveness to bounce back, that's big, and that's important."
 
Said true freshman Katie Maney: "These guys are some of the most determined, hard-working girls I know. It's not easy to come back a loss like we had this morning. But we're very determined to get it done. We weren't letting them go home 2-0 against us."
 
Maney jump-started the effort with her second leadoff homer in two days – she also homered in the bottom of the first inning Saturday in a second-game win over St. Mary's (Texas).
 
"She can hit," Van Wetzinga said. "She's not very big in stature, but she swings the bat hard. And she's a competitor."
 
Through 13 games this season, Maney is batting .375 (15-for-40) with four homers and 11 RBIs.
 
This college softball things looks easy.
 
"Don't let it fool you," Maney said. "It is still very hard. I'm having so much fun though, and I think that's one of the biggest keys. I'm out here with my best friends playing softball."
 
Maney's leadoff homer set the stage for a four-run opening inning that also included a two-run homer by Audrey Burt, another freshman.
 
"We definitely needed that (good start)," Van Wetzinga said. "We knew we weren't going to shut them out – they had already scored (in the top of the first). But I think it was a statement by our offense that, 'We're here this game. It's not going to be easy.'"
 
St. Edward's (7-2) rallied for four runs – three unearned – in the third inning to re-take the lead at 5-4, but MSU Denver (8-5) responded in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run rally.
 
Jaiden Geist's RBI double tied it, then Miah Hartvigsen followed with a go-ahead RBI single to left.
 
"I was trying to hit it hard, somewhere in the outfield," Hartvigsen said. "Because I knew if it was somewhere in the outfield that Jaiden could get home. I was just trying to do my job to help my team. It just fell where it needed to go."
 
Ari Valdez and Robb each tacked on RBI singles to close the rally.
 
Down the stretch, Van Wetzinga turned to fourth-year pitcher Julia Heitz, a 10-game winner in 2019 whose opportunities for innings have been limited the last two years. Heitz responded with 2 1/3 scoreless, one-hit innings for her first career save.
 
"Everybody has their own path, their own journey," an emotional Van Wetzinga said. "And hers has been tough. So that was cool to see. She's figured it out, and she wanted the ball – it's easy to not want the ball in that situation. We needed her and it was awesome to see that. Because when she's on, she's not easy to hit. I'm super proud of her."
 
Robb finished with three hits – including two doubles – and Geist, Burt, Hartvigsen and Hannah DiFabio each had two hits. Geist had two doubles.
 
"I love this team," said Robb, an All-American as a true freshman last season who is batting .372 with five doubles this year. "We have a lot of heart and a lot of passion. Everyone gives it their all. There's not a lot of fear. Sometimes a young team would be on its heels, but this team just wants to show up, whether it's a freshman or a fifth-year senior, and be here for one another."