DENVER – Hannah DiFabio hit a walkoff single in the opening game and
Ari Valdez homered in each game as MSU Denver swept a non-conference doubleheader against Colorado School of Mines, 4-3 and 6-2, Thursday at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
Trailing 2-0 in the opener, MSU Denver (19-12) rallied with a run in the third before Valdez tied it with a solo homer in the fifth. Colorado School of Mines re-took the lead in the top of the sixth, but
Mackenzie Jamieson tied it in the bottom of the frame with a pinch-hit, RBI single.
In the seventh, pinch hitter
Alexia Boring was hit by a pitch,
Kami Grammerstorf walked and
Rebecca Gonzales singled to load the bases ahead of DiFabio, who singled to right for the game-winner.
Starting pitcher
Audrey Burt worked five innings and allowed two runs (neither earned) on six hits.
Julia Heitz (3-1) pitched the final two innings for the win, allowing one run (also unearned) on three hits.
"We had some miscues defensively that I'd like to see us clean up, but there were other plays we made tonight that were tough and really good plays," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "Audrey and Julia combined for a good first game. It was nice to see them work together for the win."
In the nightcap, Mines scored a first-inning run, but Valdez tied it with a second-inning homer.
"Ari at the plate as a spark plug for us," Van Wetzinga said. "She was ready to attack and as a result had two huge home runs."
The Roadrunners eventually built the lead to 6-1 on
Jaiden Geist's two-run triple in the fifth.
Mines rallied for a run in the seventh, but
Sarah Norton came on in relief with two runners on base and struck out the only batter she faced for her third save – moving into a tie with Burt and two others for second in program history for saves in a season.
Destinee Lopez (6-3) got the win after allowing two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"Once we took the lead in game two, it was nice to see us not look back and extend the lead even further," Van Wetzinga said. "Destinee gave us a really nice start. She pitched at a good level and Sarah came in and threw hard to shut the door for the last out. It was a good finish."
