DENVER – One day can make a big difference.
Less than 24 hours after walking away from the Assembly Athletic Complex after a disappointing 12-6 loss to New Mexico Highlands, MSU Denver headed for the exits Saturday with plenty of smiling faces after sweeping the Cowboys 10-1 and 6-1 on Saturday.
"I was disappointed yesterday in the way we played," Strain said. "I told our guys yesterday that there are a lot of people here who are doing a lot of things for them, and those people deserve to get their very best every single game. If we lose, it is what it is. But we didn't give our very best yesterday. I thought we did today."
After unsuccessfully trying to piece together a bullpen game on short notice Friday, the Roadrunners had two starters move front and center Saturday.
Brad Helton (2-0) allowed one run on five hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts in the opener, then
Andrew Hayes allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings in the nightcap.
Both games were seven-inning affairs.
"This game, you win with pitching and defense," Strain said. "If you get those two things, you're in every single game. If you don't, a lot of times it doesn't matter how you hit, because you just can't score enough. It's tough to score against a team that doesn't give you extra bases.
"I'm proud of the way the guys pitched. We've been up and down on the mound, but we had two quality starts today that gave our offense a chance to get going, and we had enough big hits to score enough runs."
The strong starts set up solid outings by relievers
Carter Akerfelds (game one),
Brandon Moore (game two) and
Eric Cox (game two).
"Our starting pitchers are a group of guys who haven't started very much. We lost three of our four starters from last year and (Austin) Stone (the fourth starter) hasn't been able to pitch much. It's different being a starter, and you need to get used to it. But at the same time, they have to believe in themselves."
While Helton, a freshman is on a three-start run in which he has a 2.76 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings, Hayes' showing indicates another piece of the rotation puzzle may be clicking into place.
"His stuff is nasty," Strain said. "Good velo (velocity). Good breaking ball. He kept them off balanced and attacked the zone. He pitched really well. That's what he showed us in the fall and it was what we've been kind of expecting. He just hadn't been able to show it to us yet. Sometimes it just takes guys a little while. He threw it well, and we need him to continue doing that."
Meanwhile on offense,
Bill Ralston homered in each game while going a combined 5-for-7 with four RBIs, and the 2021 All-American has now homered in four straight games while putting a total of five over the fence. He's 9-for-15 (.600) with nine RBIs during his four-game tirade.
"He's been taking offensive swings," Strain said. "When you're 3-hole hitter is swinging well, barreling up balls and hitting home runs, it just makes everything easier on everyone else. When he does that, everyone can take a deep breath. He's taking good hacks on almost every at-bat."
MSU Denver improved to 15-10 overall and 6-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Highlands dropped to 5-18 and 3-8.
The series concludes with a noon game Sunday.
