GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – MSU Denver scored first in each game, but league favorite Colorado Mesa pulled away late both times and swept a doubleheader in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball opener for both teams on Sunday.
 
Tied 1-1 in the fourth inning of the first game, Mesa scored three in the fourth and finished with a 5-1 win. In the second game, Mesa scored five in the fifth to break open another 1-1 game and eventually won 7-1.
 
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to put it together consistently with our bats today," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "Credit to their pitchers for working at good levels and for their defense making plays when they needed to."
 
Sarah Norton (4-2) pitched 3 2/3 innings in the opener, allowing four runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Audrey Burt (2-2) worked 4 1/3 in the second game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Julia Heitz worked in relief in each game and gave up four runs (only one earned) on four hits in three innings.

"I thought our pitchers battled and gave us a chance," Van Wetzinga said. "Mesa's hitters were attacking and battling and our pitchers were doing the same. As hitters and as an offense, we need to put be able to apply pressure in the same way."

Shelby Robb's third-inning homer gave MSU Denver its first-game lead, while Hannah DiFabio put the Roadrunners ahead with an RBI single in fourth inning of the second game.
 
The Roadrunners were limited to 10 hits on the day – DiFabio was 4-for-7.

"Tomorrow is a new day," Van Wetzinga said. "I'm looking for our team to come out and accept a challenge, to not back down, and to compete as a team."