DENVER – Shelby Robb's walk-off two-run double capped a rally from a three-run deficit with six outs to go Friday as MSU Denver won the opening game of a softball doubleheader with Colorado Christian 6-5.
 
The Roadrunners tried to repeat the feat in the second game, but after falling behind 5-0 had to settle for a twinbill split with a 6-3 defeat.
 
In the opener, the Roadrunners got Katie Maney's third bottom-of-the-first leadoff homer of the season and took an early 2-0 lead, but had only one hit from the second through the fifth innings and found themselves trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the sixth.
 
But Hannah DiFabio singled with one out, Audrey Burt followed with a double, then Haley Doughty delivered a pinch-hit RBI single and Megan Jamieson drove in another run with a single to get the Roadrunners within 5-4.
 
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Maney drew a leadoff walk, Emily Shreves beat out a bunt for a hit, then Robb drove in both runners with a drive to right center.
 
"That was exciting," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "The way we responded, from three runs down, that shows a lot of character. They responded the way we needed to respond, and in the way we've been talking with them about – having some fight and energy and getting after it. To see them work together and not roll over after giving up the lead late, that was nice to see."
 
Burt, the winning pitcher in relief in the opening game and the loser as the starter in the second game, also led the MSU Denver offense while going 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the day. Robb was 2-for-7 and had three RBIs.
 
Colorado Christian (15-5 overall, 5-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) hit three homers in building a 5-0 lead in the nightcap, but MSU Denver (9-10, 1-5) chipped away with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to offset a run by the Cougars in the sixth.
 
"They've got some big kids and if they put the barrel on it, it's going to go," Van Wetzinga said. "It's tough when it's that lopsided after three innings, and a lot of teams would just roll over when they're down that much that early, but we started putting together some tougher at-bats and giving ourselves a chance.
 
"Our pitchers adjusted, dug their heels in and kept them there. It was nice that we kept fighting and gave ourselves a shot. And, honestly, they came up with a couple of really big defensive plays. You have to give credit to them for playing tough defense behind their pitcher."
 
MSU Denver's march through a difficult start to the conference season – league favorite Colorado Mesa last weekend and preseason second choice Colorado Christian this – is scheduled to continue with an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday. The Roadrunners are picked third in the RMAC.