DENVER – Satisfaction.
 
For the first time this season, the MSU Denver softball team completed a four-game weekend sweep while taking two from Chadron State 7-6 and 11-3 on Sunday at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
 
The second game was stopped after six innings due to the eight-run rule.
 
"We're really excited," center fielder Shelby Robb said. "That's what we've been working on for the last few weeks. Physically we know we're good enough to get four wins, but mentally we needed to take the next step. And we did a really good job of finally get there today."
 
MSU Denver improved to 26-13 overall and 14-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"It was really nice to see them put it all together," Roadrunners coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We had some different people step up with some really nice at-bats. Both days were pretty similar – grinding out the first game and having some tense moments, and then winning big in game two. It's nice to put it all together. They're excited. And I'm proud of them."
 
Robb was 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs and – most excitingly – an inside-the-park homer in the opening game.
 
The All-American hit a third-inning drive that sailed into the left field fence, and then bounced back and past the Chadron State left fielder.
 
"I saw the ball hit the bottom of the fence, so I was ready for the triple," Robb said. "But then I saw coach sending me so I said, 'OK, let's see what happens here.' It was pretty exciting."
 
Van Wetzinga, coaching third, had the windmill arm motion going as the Eagles' center fielder picked up the ball and began the relay towards home.
 
"We've got speed, let's use it," Van Wetzinga said. "Shelby is fast. (She was coming towards third and I thought) 'Oh, you're here already, let's go.' She was moving."
 
A two-run homer by Jaiden Geist in the fourth inning built the lead to 6-2 and Robb's RBI double made it 7-3 in the fifth.
 
But things got exciting late.
 
Audrey Burt, who also hit a three-run double in the first inning to continue a red-hot offensive weekend, got through five innings in the circle for her second pitching victory of the weekend. (She improved to 9-5.)
 
She also got relief help from Destinee Lopez after yielding a two-run homer in the sixth. And, while Lopez gave up another run in the inning, she closed the door for her first save of the season and the sixth of her career, the second-most in program history.
 
After the two-homer first game, the Roadrunners made things exciting with three more in the second game – a three-run shot by Hannah DiFabio in the fourth inning, a two-run blast by Alexia Boring in the fifth, and Kami Grammerstorf's three-run shot in the sixth that pushed the lead to a game-ending eight runs.
 
In fact, Boring was exciting for MSU Denver – in a spot start batting ninth in the order, the freshman had three hits, including an RBI triple in the second.
 
"Alexia works really hard and is super coachable, and we've been seeing it coming," Van Wetzinga said. "She's been getting better and getting better. She's never been discouraged and has always been ready to go. Hard worker, great attitude, coachable … those things matter. You will get better if you have those things, so I'm happy for her."
 
In raising her batting average 82 points to .267, Boring was a double short of the cycle, hit her second triple and her first homer.
 
"It's my first college home run," Boring said. "I've been waiting for it all year. I knew the second I hit it that, 'Yep, that's the one.'
 
"Getting my chance, I try to make every opportunity count. I just tried to stay calm, relaxed and confident at the plate, and it really helped."
 
In the circle, Sarah Norton (8-3) – after pitching a five-inning, complete-game, three-hit shutout in Saturday's first game – came back in Sunday's nightcap with a six-inning complete game, shutting out the Eagles after giving up three first-inning runs.
 
"Sarah had a bit of a rough start and they were putting some good swings on some things, but I was really happy with the way Sarah, after the first inning, put up zeroes and didn't get too rattled by it," Van Wetzinga said.
 
There was plenty of offense to go around, too.
 
For the day, DiFabio was 4-for-8 with a triple, a homer and three RBIs, Burt was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and Grammerstorf delivered her second career homer.
 
"I'm really proud of everybody who comes in and steps up to the plate with confidence, even if they don't start every game," Robb said. "One through 18 of us contributes, and everybody is ready to go and soon as they're called on."