COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two league series, two four-game sweeps.
The MSU Denver softball team stayed undefeated in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, overcoming a 5-1, sixth-inning deficit in the opening game and then taking control early in the nightcap while sweeping UCCS on Sunday, 9-7 and 5-1.
"I thought our team showed good resiliency today," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "In a four-game series, you have to find different ways to win, and we did that. Things weren't looking great in game one, but the team stuck with it, and we were able to bust through in the sixth."
In the opener, MSU Denver (11-9 overall) scored seven runs in the sixth to take the lead. A two-run double by
Kami Grammerstorf cut the four-run deficit in half, and
Hannah DiFabio tied it with a two-run single. Then the Roadrunners took a 7-5 lead on a two-run single by Miah Hartivgsen, and another run scored as
Aaliyah Arellano drew a bases-loaded walk.
After UCCS scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-7,
Alexia Boring homered in the top of the seventh for the game's final run.
Cheyenne Prieto (2-0) starred in a relief role, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs (just one earned) on five hits while walking none and striking out three.
"Cheyenne stepped up huge with her best performance in the circle so far, and added some good at bats (1-for-3 with a walk)," Van Wetzinga said.
Grammerstorf, Boring,
Shelby Robb and Hartvigsen all had two-hit games.
In the second game, MSU Denver scored four in the first on an RBI double by DiFabio and a three-run homer by
Jaiden Geist.
Jenna Medhus (5-2) earned her second complete-game victory of the weekend, allowing one run on six hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
"We were able to jump out quickly in game two, and Jenna gave us another steady outing," Van Wetzinga said. "Our defense was really sharp, especially our outfield. They made some tough plays on balls all weekend."
Robb, who was 5-for-8 with two doubles and a triple for the day, was 3-for-4 in the nightcap.
MSU Denver returns home next weekend for a four-game series against CSU Pueblo, with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
