DENVER – Jaiden Geist slugged a pair of first-game home runs and Jenna Medhus did what it took to spin a complete-game victory in the nightcap as the MSU Denver softball team swept a doubleheader from Adams State, 11-9 and 7-1, Friday in its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener.
 
It wasn't always the best of days – as the Roadrunners nearly squandered the first game after being within one hit of winning via the eight-run rule, and the mustered just four hits in the second game – but nonetheless they started the league season unbeaten while improving to 5-6 overall.
 
"At the end of the day, if you play a doubleheader, it's good to go home with two wins," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "You'd feel a lot worse about it if you didn't play to your level and you lose a game or two. We've got to be sharper in order to go where we want to go. We should be sharper in every aspect. But we had some good moments today, which was nice."
 
Geist, one of several Roadrunners off to slow offensive starts, has moved down to eighth in the order and hit two-run homers in the fourth and fifth innings, putting MSU Denver up 6-3 and 11-5 respectively.
 
"We've seen some tough pitching," Van Wetzinga said. "And we have a few hitters off to a slow start. Sometimes you just move them down the lineup and they can kind of relax a little bit and see some better pitches.
 
"It was nice to see her barrel up a couple – and they were line drives, and that's what we've been trying to preach to everyone. We've been lifting and getting under balls, so we're not squaring them up. Line drives will go out – especially for her, because she's a big, tall, strong kid. Those balls got out in a hurry."
 
After Geist's second homer, the Roadrunners had the bases loaded with the chance to end it early, but Adams State fought back with four runs in the sixth.
 
Alexia Boring was 3-for-3 with a homer and Hannah DiFabio was 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple.
 
The game also featured the season debut of Shelby Robb, the 2021 All-American. Robb was 1-for-3 with a double in the opener, and was 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the second game.
 
"She's coming along," Van Wetzinga said. "It's nice for her to be able to play again and compete. Based on her at-bats today, I think she's really close. It takes awhile to get comfortable and have the timing in a live game."
 
Medhus improved to 3-2 allowing one run on six hits while striking out three.
 
"In terms of sharpness, it might have been her least-sharp game," Van Wetzinga said. "But I love how she was able to grind through it. She knew she wasn't sharp and was struggling to locate some pitches, but she was a pitcher. She stayed consistent and level-headed with it. She didn't get frustrated. She got outs. It was a really mature performance for a freshman."
 
The teams conclude the series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday.