DENVER – It's a big week for the MSU Denver softball team, with six home games at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
 
And one of the biggest days on the calendar every year for the Roadrunners is Teal Day, the annual Strikeout Cancer event. That will be recognized during Saturday's noon doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands. The Roadrunners have partnered with the Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation for the event.
 
"Cancer has touched everybody, so there's that connection," Van Wetzinga said. "The players are always excited to wear the teal jerseys, and it's exciting that it brings out more people to the game."
 
Sunday's 11 a.m. doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands is Youth Day. MSU Denver has partnered with the Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Progam, and will welcome youth players from the Play Ball! Baseball and Softball Academy.
 
"Softball and baseball, unfortunately, have become more expensive and not necessarily as accessible to everyone as they used to be," Van Wetzinga said. "And we're excited to have the players from Play Ball as well."
 
Dinger, the Rockies' mascot, and Roadrunners mascot Rowdy will also be on hand.
 
"We're trying to continue to build on some of these things we've started," Van Wetzinga said. "And getting people in the stands helps you build fans. We have a lot of promotion days this year, and I'm really excited about them."
 
Before the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference weekend series with Highlands, though, MSU Denver scheduled – on short notice – a Wednesday non-conference doubleheader with Washburn (Kan.) set for 11 a.m. at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
 
"We talked to a couple of different schools this week, trying to pick up games that we lost (due to weather)," Van Wetzinga said. "We practice so much, and I always say, 'We're not here to practice, we're here to play.' I like to try to fill our schedule as much as we can. It's fun. It breaks it up."
 
The Roadrunners perhaps could have found an easier opponent. Washburn was 19-8 before playing a doubleheader Tuesday at Regis.
 
"It's going to be tough," Van Wetzinga said. "They're good. They've played good competition and have a good record. They have a pitcher with some really good numbers and they've been scoring some runs. It'll be a challenge."
 
MSU Denver has negotiated a difficult early season schedule while going 12-11 overall.
 
The Roadrunners welcomed back veteran first baseman Rebecca Gonzales to the leadoff spot in the order last weekend, and it paid immediate dividends as she had five hits in a doubleheader sweep at CSU-Pueblo.
 
"It's nice to have someone back who has been there and done that," Van Wetzinga said. "She's typically very consistent, so it's nice to plug her back into the top of the lineup, and hopefully that will eventually put other pieces in better places, too."