DENVER – No. 23 MSU Denver put up 26 runs while sweeping a doubleheader against Mary (N.D.) on Saturday, winning 16-10 and 10-6 to improve to 11-2 for the season.
 
Cody Schultz had three hits in each game while going 6-for-11 with four RBIs and two stolen bases, Zach Schuler homered in each game and Tanner Garner had four of his five hits while homering in the opening game for the Roadrunners.
 
In the opener, MSU Denver trailed 7-1 after 3 ½ innings and 7-4 after 5 ½ before erupting for nine runs in the sixth.
 
Schuler homered to make it 7-5, Schultz drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and then Albaugh produced a game-tying sacrifice fly. A two-run double by Ross Smith, who had a homer and five RBIs in the game, put MSU Denver ahead to stay, and then Cam Yuran followed with a two-run double and Garner drove in yet another run with a double. The final run of the inning scored on a wild pitch.
 
"Obviously I'm really proud of the offense," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "After getting down 7-1 and then battling – and having some shots to really put it on them late – scoring 16 runs after being down 7-1 is pretty impressive."
 
Gabe Austin pitched 1 1/3 key innings of scoreless relief, then Brady McLean (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning before yielding one run the following inning after the long rally.
 
In the nightcap, MSU Denver led 9-0 after four innings and couldn't be caught, though Strain brought in star relievers Zane Covey and Eric Cox for the eighth and ninth, respectively.
 
Andrew Hayes (3-1) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out six, to earn the victory.
 
"I was frustrated we didn't tack on more runs, and then we gave up two runs in three straight innings," Strain said. "When you're ahead 9-0, you don't anticipate using Covey and Cox. But it was a long day for the position players. They played 18 innings and that wears on you after a while. In the end, we're happy with getting two wins."