DENVER – Preparation for every MSU Denver softball opponent includes careful consideration of MSU Denver itself.
 
"It's more about the steps we're taking to try to improve," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "That's what we're focused on. We liked the way we finished last weekend. It felt different. It looked different. Now we need to build off that and continue to get better in all aspects of the game."
 
The Roadrunners return to the Assembly Athletic Complex this weekend for doubleheaders against Chadron State at noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
 
Saturday is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day and Sunday is Miracle League of Denver Day.
 
MSU Denver has won 13 of its last 16 games – though the Roadrunners feel all three of the losses were winnable games – while improving to 22-13 overall and 10-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
The Roadrunners are also 37-9 all-time against Chadron State, with 13 straight wins in the series dating to 2017.
 
And while Chadron State is only 6-26 overall and 5-15 in the RMAC, the Eagles have split four-game series with both CSU-Pueblo and Black Hills State, two of the teams to pick up single victories over MSU Denver in its recent hot streak.

"Like any team, they have good players," Van Wetzinga said. "It's college softball. They have good players who are competitive and work hard and want to win. So if you don't show up and don't play to your potential and have some focus, it's going to be hard."
 
Making things difficult for Roadrunners opponents of late is true freshman Audrey Burt, the reigning RMAC Pitcher of the Week.
 
In three appearances during the week, Burt was 2-0 with an outstanding 0.41 ERA, recording 10 strikeouts in 17 innings while allowing only 14 hits and three runs (only one of which was earned). She capped the week with a complete-game, 3-1 win over Black Hills State in which she also hit the go-ahead homer in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie.
 
In a win over Colorado School of Mines, Burt got a no decision after allowing two runs (none earned) on six hits in five innings. Against Black Hills State on Saturday, she pitched five shutout relief innings for the win, allowing five hits and one walk and striking out four. And in Sunday's complete-game victory, she yielded one run on three hits while striking out five in seven innings.
 
Burt is 7-5 with a 3.13 ERA. She's ninth in the RMAC with 63 strikeouts and eighth with an opponent batting average of .258.

"She's been more consistent," Van Wetzinga said. "She's learning a lot, which is understandable for a freshman in the circle – that's usually a big learning curve. I like how she keeps bouncing back. Last weekend was a really good weekend. She was attacking the zone and was more efficient with her pitches. The biggest thing is, she wants to get better. She's a hard worker and has high expectations for herself."