DENVER – Pushed to the limit in a dramatic, first-game, come-from-behind, walk-off victory, MSU Denver was forced to settle for a doubleheader split on Tuesday against Fort Hays State (Kan.).
 
"I would have liked to see it carry over to the second game," MSU Denver Van Wetzinga said. "But what they did the first game … that was special. Because that was on the verge of being a quick game (a loss by the eight-run rule).
 
"Credit to (pitcher) Cheyenne (Prieto) for coming in and keeping us in it, stopping the bleeding. And credit to our girls for making the decision to compete better, work together offensively, and make some really awesome things happen."
 
MSU Denver trailed 9-1 after 2 ½ innings of the opener, took a 10-9 lead after a rally that included a grand slam by Jaiden Geist, and then won it in the bottom of the seventh on Alexia Boring's two-run homer that capped a three-run rally for a 13-11 victory.
 
In the second game, MSU Denver couldn't get its offensive attack rolling behind a solid complete-game effort from Maddy Wilson and lost 3-1.
 
"There was never really a spark in the second game," MSU Denver center fielder Kami Grammerstorf said. "We hit a couple of balls hard, but they were right at people, and there were no big errors that opened the gate for us."
 
Grammerstorf was a major spark in the opener, going 4-for-4 and scoring three runs. She crunched a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that put MSU Denver on top 10-9.
 
"She had really good at-bats all day," Van Wetzinga said. "She was confident and locked in."
 
Then, in the bottom of the seventh and the Roadrunners down to their final strike, Grammerstorf lined an RBI single to center to tie it 11-11.
 
"I had this weird, gut feeling that it was going to come down to that," Grammerstorf said. "So I had been preparing myself beforehand. And once I got up there and got two strikes, I said, 'You are not throwing it past me. No chance.' Wherever it was, I was swinging."
 
Said Van Wetzinga: That was huge. It was a really clutch, mature at-bat to set up the home run. You remember the home run – which was awesome and amazing, but you've got to get there, too."
 
Up stepped Boring, who clubbed a two-run homer to center for her first walk-off homer of any kind, at any level.
 
"I wasn't trying to think too much about it," Boring said. "I was just trying to make solid contact and keep the game going. But it ended up working out.
 
"I wasn't sure (that it was going to be a home run), but once I got to second, I saw it go over and that's when I got excited."
 
MSU Denver's leadoff hitter, Boring has a team-best six home runs.
 
"She may not be physically imposing, but she's strong," Van Wetzinga said. "She's really resilient and coachable, and those are good intangibles to have. She's good at forgetting bad at-bats and putting together a good one, and that's why she's been one of our most consistent players. She's gritty, too."
 
In the second game, Wilson turned in her best outing of her first season with MSU Denver, allowing three runs on seven hits while going the distance.
 
She had double plays turned behind her in each of the first two innings and very nearly made it three innings in a row – the first run of the game scored when the play wasn't completed.
 
"Maddy did everything we ask a pitcher to do," Van Wetzinga said. "She kept us in the game. They had opportunities, but she made some big pitches in big situations – and our defense made some great plays behind her, but you can't do that without keeping the ball in play.
 
"I was happy with how she was able to grind though it. It wasn't perfect, but we don't ask anyone to be perfect, especially in the circle. Be tough and keep us in the game, and she did that."
 
MSU Denver returns to action Saturday with a noon doubleheader against Black Hills State. That four-game series has been shifted to the Assembly Athletic Complex due to unplayable field conditions in South Dakota.