DENVER – MSU Denver doubled down on its walk-off wins.
Not to be outdone by
Jaiden Geist's walk-off single to win the opening game,
Shelby Robb capped a five-run, two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run, walk-off homer in the nightcap as the Roadrunners swept a doubleheader from UCCS, 4-3 and 7-5, Saturday at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
The Roadrunners were down to their final strike 11 times before winning the second game.
"Maybe they just didn't want a lecture after the game," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said, smiling. "We need to see that (fight) earlier, those type of at-bats, that kind of battle. But it was special what they put together."
In the seventh, trailing 5-2 with two outs and a runner on second base, the Roadrunners (28-13 overall, 16-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) went to work.
Emily Shreves fouled off a two-strike pitch before delivering an RBI double down the left field line. 5-3.
Rebecca Gonzales fouled off seven two-strike pitches before capping an 11-pitch at-bat with an RBI double to right center. 5-4.
Hannah DiFabio didn't get to two strikes, but it was certainly dramatic enough when she singled up the middle, tying the game 5-5.
Then Robb, the 2021 All-American, got behind no balls, two strikes, fouled off a 1-2n pitch, and then launched her fourth homer of the year to left center. Game over.
"That was really exciting," Robb said. "We knew we were not done in the final inning of the second game, hadn't shown them what we were capable of. We said, 'Why not? Let's make it our inning.' And we did just that."
Said Van Wetzinga: "We showed a lot of fight today, a lot of resolve. It shows what our players are capable of when they put their minds to it."
The big finish overshadowed a quality comeback in the lidlifter, as the Roadrunners overcame a three-run top of the first by UCCS (18-16, 16-10), tying the game with a run in the bottom of the first on Geist's RBI double and two more in the fifth on a double by
Audrey Burt.
In the bottom of the seventh, Robb doubled to right center. Then Geist capped a 3-for-4 game with a single to right center to end it.
"My mentality was to just get the ball to the outfield, because I knew Shelby could score," Geist said. "I was excited to hit. It was my moment and I just stepped up."
Burt (10-5) was the winning pitcher in the opener, pitching a complete-game six hitter – all three runs against her were unearned.
Destinee Lopez (7-3) picked up the win in relief in the second game, allowing one run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The series concludes with a noon doubleheader Sunday at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
MSU Denver has won eight straight games.
"We're definitely hitting our stride now," Robb said. "We got some clutch hits today, and everyone is coming through in big moments. Everyone is contributing, everyone knows their roles, and everyone is embracing it."
