DENVER – With wins in 20 of its last 24 games, the MSU Denver softball team has charged up the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings and sits in fourth place with three weekends left in the regular season.
 
The Roadrunners seek to continue the upward trend this weekend in a four-game series at Fort Lewis, with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday at noon and Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
"We've been building the last few weekends," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We have some individuals turning some corners. They've worked through some things and are showing more consistency. And, as a team, more success is coming with the consistency.
 
"We want to build on that. Our message is to keep inching forward, just get at least one percent better each day."
 
MSU Denver (29-14 overall, 17-9 RMAC) is one game behind Regis (19-9 in league play) in the conference standings, and plays four at Regis next weekend. But first comes Fort Lewis (12-25 overall, 12-16 RMAC). And the Skyhawks have plenty of motivation as they are just two games out of sixth place – and the top six teams at season's end advance to the RMAC Tournament.
 
"Playing on the road at a place like Durango is always a little tough, a little different," Van Wetzinga said. "You're at altitude there. And everyone, no matter where they're at in the standings, is more comfortable at their home field. So you have to show up and compete, work on the controllables. If we do that and bring good energy, I think we'll like where we're at."
 
Statistically, MSU Denver is making noise nationally, ranking eighth in Division II in triples (19), 12^th in doubles (74), 27^th in both runs (253) and hits (349) and 31^st in homers (37).
 
"Our offense is turning a corner," Van Wetzinga said. "It's fun to watch someone like Jaiden Geist settle in, relax and have some success. Same with Kami Grammerstorf getting her confidence back. We have young players figuring things out."
 
Over her last nine games, Geist is batting .467 (14-for-30) with six doubles, two homers and an eye-popping 15 RBIs. Grammerstorf is hitting .375 (18-for-48) over her last 22 games, with 13 RBIs and seven stolen bases.
 
Meanwhile, perhaps no statistical line is more impressive than what Audrey Burt has done since adding full-time hitting duties while pitching.
 
In her last five games when hitting and pitching at the same time – dating to a pinch-hit homer at Black Hills State on March 27 – Burt is an unbelievable 12-for-13 (.923) with four doubles, three homers and 11 RBIs. She's also drawn two walks in that stretch, giving her a .933 on-base percentage while performing double duty (she's also 4-1 in the circle).
 
"It's nice to have a hitting pitcher like Audrey, because it gives you a lot of flexibility on what you can do with things," Van Wetzinga said. "Once people are doing more and producing like we are now, you can have a lot more fun with the lineup."
 
Burt's success is a microcosm of the team's. Everything is coming together.
 
"We want to continue putting all phases of the game together," Van Wetzinga said. "Show up and compete, focus on consistency. Pitchers, execute pitches and keep us in the game. Hitters, have tough at-bats, understand that every pitch matters. If we keep doing those things, I think we'll continue to click."