DENVER – Yes, it's true. CSU-Pueblo still plays RMAC softball.
 
For the first time since 2019, MSU Denver will play the ThunderWolves this weekend, with doubleheaders scheduled for noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday in Pueblo, Colo.
 
"There is some element of the unknown with them, since it's been so long since we've played," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "They have a new coach and I expect a different type of energy from them. They have some new faces that we've never seen before. So that's kind of exciting when you face the unknown.
 
"But my approach is always that, 'it's about us.' We have to show up and compete. It's nice to know information about the team you play, but it starts and ends with us and how we go about our business on the weekend."
 
MSU Denver has won six of the last seven games against CSU-Pueblo, and 15 of 18 dating back to 2014. The teams didn't play in 2020 as the season was canceled due to COVID-19 before their scheduled matchup, and last season's games were eventually canceled due to weather and an inability to reschedule.
 
CSU-Pueblo was picked to finish eighth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this season, but is off to an 8-3 start, including a 5-3 mark in league play.
 
MSU Denver is just 9-10 overall and 1-5 in the RMAC, but the Roadrunners' first six league games have come against the teams picked to finish first and second. MSU Denver is the preseason third choice.
 
Van Wetzinga expects CSU-Pueblo to challenge the Roadrunners' defense, particularly the infielders.
 
"They're going to be a lot different type of team than what we've seen the last two weeks," Van Wetzinga said. "They have a lot of lefty hitters, and they'll try to use their speed and play some small ball. We have to be prepared for that and be on our toes defensively."
 
Offensively, the Roadrunners are off to a bit of a slow start, with the quality of opponents a clear factor. Hannah DiFabio is batting a team-best .351 with three homers and nine RBIs, All-American Shelby Robb is hitting .328 with six doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs, and Katie Maney is batting .298 with five homers and 13 RBIs.
 
"We need more consistency for sure," Van Wetzinga said. "We need to be able to attack and understand what the pitcher is doing sooner. We need to string quality at-bats together more consistently."
 
MSU Denver's four-armed pitching staff of Sarah Norton, Julia Heitz, Audrey Burt and Destinee Lopez is seeking to improve upon a 4.37 ERA. Again, quality of opponents has been a factor.
 
"Our pitchers, like our hitters, need to be more consistent," Van Wetzinga said. "We've given up runs in chunks too much, given up too many long balls. We've got to pitch at a better level, keep the ball in the park and we have athletic players, so let's let them make plays."