GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – MSU Denver was limited to seven hits in two games against league favorite Colorado Mesa on Monday and fell 7-1 and 4-0.
 
The Roadrunners, picked to finish third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, were swept in the doubleheader and in the four-game series to open league play.
 
"It wasn't our weekend," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "Like yesterday, our hitters weren't able to make adjustments and put enough quality at-bats together. Credit to their pitchers. They controlled the strike zone and attacked. They were very efficient and effective."
 
Audrey Burt's second-inning home run, her second homer of the season, tied the opening game 1-1, but Colorado Mesa answered with two runs in the second inning and stayed in front the rest of the way.
 
MSU Denver's Emily Shreves was 2-for-2 with the double as part of a 4-for-10 series.
 
Colorado Mesa's Ellie Smith pitched a three-hit shutout in the second game, with one of the hits by Burt, who was 1-for-2 with a walk.
 
Burt was tagged with the pitching loss in the second game after working five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, with one walk and five strikeouts. Burt posted a 3.75 ERA in two starts for the series, and relievers Destinee Lopez (2.33 ERA in three innings) and Julia Heitz (4.00 in seven) also helped give the offense a chance to get going. Sarah Norton was hit a bit harder, but has been the Roadrunners' top option most of the season.

"Overall our pitchers were solid and that's something to build off for the rest of the season," Van Wetzinga said.
 
Another tough task awaits MSU Denver (8-9 overall) as Colorado Christian – picked second in the RMAC – comes to the Assembly Athletic Complex for a four-game series that includes doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday at noon and Sunday at 11 a.m.

"We have a lot of softball left to play," Van Wetzinga said. "Hopefully we can get some rest, go to work, and bounce back against another tough team in CCU."