DENVER – It was a day of great pitching at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
First MSU Denver's
Reichle Arcilise dominated 13
th-ranked Colorado School of Mines with a nine-inning, complete-game five-hitter in a 12-1 victory, then Mines' Tyler Blomster returned the favor despite a terrific outing from the Roadrunners'
Tyler Phillips in helping his team a 2-0 victory and a doubleheader split on Friday.
"Their guy, obviously, was good in the second game," MSU Denver coach
Ryan Strain said. "But our guys (Phillips and reliever
Conner Nantkes) threw great. If you had told me going in that we'd give up three runs in 16 innings, I would take that any day of the week. I've challenged our pitchers quite a bit, because in most of our losses we haven't pitched very well."
And therein was the frustration for Strain in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener.
Because while Blomster – who pitched a three-hit, no-walk, six-strikeout shutout in the seven-inning nightcap – extended his season-opening streak of no earned runs allowed to 27 – it felt like a missed opportunity for the Roadrunners.
Phillips allowed two runs on only three hits while striking out five, and Nantkes pitched two one-hit shutout innings while fanning four.
"I was extremely frustrated with our offense," Strain said. "Because Philly gave us a great shot to win. There are very few chances in your life to face a great pitcher – and I know he's the RMAC's all-time win leader – but you have to go out and beat him. I'm disappointed in the way our offense competed."
In the opener,
Tanner Garner was 2-for-3 with a double, a homer and four RBIs,
Ross Smith had a three-run triple, and
Chase Anderson reached base in all five of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs, three walks and three runs. Smith had two of the Roadrunners' three hits in the nightcap.
"We were able to swing the bat really well in the first game," Strain said. "We had some big home runs and had plenty of chances to score runs. I was really pleased with the way the offense performed in the first game."
The teams are scheduled to complete the series with a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.