SPEARFISH, S.D. – Audrey Burt hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh inning to make herself the winning pitcher in a complete-game effort as MSU Denver defeated Black Hills State 3-1 in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader.
 
The Roadrunners cruised to a twinbill sweep and a 3-1 series victory with an 11-0 win in the nightcap, which was stopped after five innings due to the eight-run rule.
 
Burt (7-5) allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts.
 
"Audrey threw really well today," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "She was throwing with good velocity and worked at a good level. She produced a lot of swing and misses.

"And obviously she came through with a huge pinch-hit home run as well. She was tough today."
 
Hannah DiFabio put MSU Denver ahead with a fourth-inning homer before Black Hills State tied it in the fifth.
 
After Burt's homer in the seventh, the Roadrunners tacked on another run as Ari Valdez scored on the back end of a double steal.
 
"We showed some fire and toughness today, and I can't say enough about the fire and competitiveness that Ari brings to the field every game," Van Wetzinga said. "There's no doubt she's our spark plug.
 
"The message to the team was bringing that toughness all the time. Whether you've got fans chirping in your ear, an umpire's zone you don't like, or something else, use it as fuel instead of getting sad and defeated about it." 

DiFabio and Valdez each had two of MSU Denver's five hits in the opener.

"In game one, we did today what we weren't able to do yesterday, and that's finish,
 Van Wetzinga said. "Our defense stayed steady behind Audrey and we were able to break through with a couple runs and we shut the door in the bottom half."

In the second game, Sarah Norton (6-3) scattered seven hits and struck out five in a five-inning complete-game shutout.

"Sarah attacked their hitters really well," Van Wetzinga said. "She gave our infield lots of ground balls, which is what we want. She also got her changeup going, which was effective as well."
 
Rebecca Gonzales was 3-for-4 and scored three runs, while DiFabio and Jaiden Geist were each 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

"Jaiden Geist had some good at bats this weekend and started to show the power she is capable of," Van Wetzinga said.

MSU Denver improved to 22-13 overall and 10-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners play host to Chadron State for a four-game series on April 2 and 3.