DENVER – Twelfth-ranked Colorado Christian, the runaway leader of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at 41-3 overall and 31-1 in league play, comes to the Assembly Athletic Complex for a four-game series this weekend against MSU Denver.
 
Doubleheaders are scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Among the events during Alumni Weekend are Saturday's Military Appreciation Day and Fireworks Night.
 
The Roadrunners were nearly keeping pace with Colorado Christian by starting league play at 19-1, but they've since dropped seven of 10 to slid to third in the league at 26-15 overall and 22-8 in the RMAC.
 
"We haven't responded that well yet to the tougher part of our schedule," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We had some bad luck, and some of it is learning how to finish, how to compete, how to attack and make things tough for the other team when it isn't necessarily easy."
 
MSU Denver outscored Colorado Mesa in a four-game series two weekends ago, yet lost three close games while winning just once. The Roadrunners then lost three of four at Colorado School of Mines last weekend.
 
Yet, in the series against Mines, MSU Denver witnessed the key to success.
 
"Mines kept battling and attacking," Van Wetzinga said. "Our infield was busy, and they have a lot of speed. We had to work to get outs. We need to do more of that when we're hitting, especially when we have people on base."
 
Colorado Christian, already brimming with experienced veterans from the team that last year was 49-10 overall and 34-4 in the RMAC, added several key transfers, including a major addition to its pitching staff.
 
The Cougars currently lead Division II in doubles (96) and rank second in hits (413) and triples (25). The pitching staff ranks 13^th with a 1.68 ERA, seconds with 18 shutouts and third in WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings pitched) at 0.89.
 
Unlike last year, when the Cougars finished second in the RMAC and had to win the RMAC Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament – and was still given only the eighth seed in the eight-team regional – a quality non-conference performance has pushed them into the national conversation.
 
"They got some big wins in California," Van Wetzinga said. "And then they've taken care of business in the RMAC. And that's what you expect from an experienced team. They're getting their recognition because they've gotten signature wins outside of our conference."
 
MSU Denver also played a quality non-conference schedule and has seen what the highest levels of Division II looks like.
 
"We played tough teams early in the season, too," Van Wetzinga said. "There isn't a huge gap. But if you don't show up against a good team, then all of a sudden it looks bad. You have to show up and play a clean game. They've got really good pitching, so make them work – they're going to get outs, they'll get their strikeouts – but make them work for it. And then take advantage of opportunities on offense."
 
The Roadrunners will try to produce more quality at-bats with runners on base. They've left an average of 6.5 runners on base per game while losing six of their last eight.
 
"That's been a big deal for us," Van Wetzinga said. "We need to put productive bats together in those situations, and as coaches we need to figure out how to tap into that and make it happen."