DENVER – Crosstown conference rivals square off for the only time this season on Thursday, as MSU Denver faces Colorado School of Mines in a 4 p.m. softball doubleheader at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
But, in a scheduling quirk, the games are non-conference affairs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule currently isn't set up so that each of the league's 12 teams play each of the other 11 opponents.
Still, the meeting with Mines carries some weight.
"It's an easy way to pick up a couple of games," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "They're right down the road. And it's regional competition. Playing mid-week, especially this part of the season, it's fun to go play and give people opportunities, because we practice a ton."
MSU Denver is 17-12 overall and 7-7 in RMAC play. Colorado School of Mines is only 7-15 overall, but has the same 7-7 mark in league play. The Orediggers have a new coach and several new players.
"With that can come a lot of learning and growing pains," Van Wetzinga said. "They had a tough non-conference schedule, and they've competed well and lost some close games. They had a nice split last weekend, and they'll be tough. They're always scrappy and it's a cross-town rival."
MSU Denver finishes the weekend with a four-game RMAC series at Black Hills State, with doubleheaders Saturday at noon and Sunday at 11 a.m.
In another scheduling quirk, MSU Denver has played only two games at Black Hills State in its history, with weather often a contributing factor.
"I haven't been there since my second year here," Van Wetzinga said. "And it's my ninth season. We've played them in Gillette, Wyoming, before. It's a nice area, so we're looking forward to going."
Black Hills State is 5-11, both overall and in the RMAC.
"They're building a strong culture, and there's a good energy around them," Van Wetzinga said. "They always have some hitters who can do some things. They're going to have energy, and I think they feel good about where they are. They're going to be energetic and competitive, and if we don't match that it's going to be really tough."
After a slow start (1-5) in league play against the league's top two teams, MSU Denver has won six of its last eight league games and 8 of 10 overall.
The Roadrunners also have some new players in key roles, including freshman catchers
Jaiden Geist and
Trish Leins. Geist is six for her last 16 to raise her batting average to .250 while developing her power. With Geist out last week, Leins was 5-for-11 to improve to .200.
"I've been happy with the development of both our catchers," Van Wetzinga said. "It was a shaky start for them – they're true freshmen and the game was moving pretty fast for them when we started. But they're starting to settle in and compete and play with more confidence."
Including a midweek doubleheader last week against Washburn (Kan.), Van Wetzinga had a chance to take a look at multiple players.
"We've been trying to give other people opportunities for one reason or another – injuries or just to shake up the lineup – and I've been happy with how most people have been ready to do some good things with their opportunities," Van Wetzinga said. "That's a strength of our team. We may not have a big roster, but we are deep in terms of talent and people we trust to put out there."
