DENVER – Beyond what his group of 12 seniors has done on the field, MSU Denver coach Ryan Stain will miss what they brought off the field as well.
 
"They're all good kids," Strain said. "They're going to be missed for sure. Not just as players, but as people.
 
"It always stinks when it gets down to this at the end of the year. But that's life, and hopefully we can send them off with a really good season and they'll come back and hang out with us in the future."
 
MSU Denver, ranked Nos. 20 and 21 in the two major national Division II rankings, will hold its Senior Day on Sunday before a noon game against Colorado Christian. That will wrap up a four-game series that includes Friday's 6 p.m. single game and Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Appearing for the final time at the Assembly Athletic Complex this weekend will be outfielder Jake Barber, reliever Clayton Burke, closer Eric Cox, center fielder Tanner Garner, catcher Nate Madrid, reliever Brady Mello, reliever Ryan Overboe, infielder Zach Paschke, second baseman Cody Schultz, catcher Colin Stone, pitcher Josh Thompson and catcher Keegan Vialpando.
 
"It's a good group," Strain said. "Some of these guys have been here for a long time.
 
"They've meant a lot to the program and have helped us get from where we started to where we are now. They've all had integral parts in some way. Some have played more than others, but they've all contributed throughout their time here."
 
The group includes a sixth-year senior in Cox, who is the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's all-time saves leader. Schultz, Garner and Stone are All-RMAC level multi-season starters.
 
"There are going to be some pretty big shoes to fill," Strain said. "And every year you're going to have that if you have good players. We lost some really good players from last year's team, too."
 
Cox, the designated hitter in Strain's first game as head coach in 2018, transitioned to full-time pitcher during his career and has 26 career saves, with a 3.79 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings.
 
"To be the all-time saves leader is really impressive," Strain said. "It shows how hard he's worked. We have a good relationship, just because he's so old and has been here for so long."
 
Schultz didn't become a full-time starter at second base until midway through last season, but he's been a spark as the leadoff hitter ever since and has a career batting average of .369, with 16 homers, 92 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. He's 11^th in program history with 134 runs.
 
"Schultz had to work his way through some things and didn't get to play as much as he would have liked at times, but he's continued to bust his tail and become an integral part of our program," Strain said.
 
In three seasons as a regular, Stone has batted .339 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs.
 
"We recruited his brother (pitcher Austin Stone) first, and we've had him as a cornerstone behind the plate for three years," Strain said. "He's been there for so many games for us, and he's continued to grow since he's gotten here – his offense has continued to grow."
 
Garner joined the program last season as a transfer from Colorado Mesa and has batted .396 with 16 homers, 89 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. His career batting average is ninth in program history.
 
"I remember watching him play and I hated to play against him," Strain said. "We got a chance to get him, and I like to joke and say, 'I'd like to have 43 of him. I might not have any hair left, but I would take 43 of him.' He plays with an edge, and he goes right up to that line."
 
That mentality has helped the Roadrunners to a 34-8 record this season, including 19-5 in RMAC play.
 
"Losing these guys, a lot of it is the mentality," Strain said. "Hopefully some guys who are younger and guys who we will bring in will have that mentality. They all have an impact not just playing, but how they play the game."
 
The key to successful teams is often its role players, and this team is filled with seniors who have contributed in often unseen ways.
 
The speedy Barber is a .266 career hitter who has often pinch-run or played as a defensive replacement in close games.
 
"Jake hoped he'd play more than he has, but he's been a great teammate and when he's gotten opportunities, he's done some really good things," Strain said. "He had a walkoff homer against UCCS a couple years ago. He's had some big moments. He hasn't complained. He's a great kid."
 
Thompson hasn't pitched in 2022, but he has pitched 37 innings, striking out 36.
 
"Josh won some big games for us and pitched really well," Strain said. "Unfortunately he got hurt last year when he beat Mesa in April and hasn't been able to come back. He may still. But he's thrown a lot of meaningful innings for us."
 
Backup catcher Keegan Vialpando is a career .269 hitter and launched his first career homer last weekend.
 
"Keegan has had some big at-bats and played in some big games," Strain said. "He's been banged up a little this year, but he's still doing some great things. He's another really good person."
 
Another backup catcher, Nate Madrid, has caught more bullpens than one could count, and this year, at long last, he's gotten some playing time and has batted .409 (9-for-22) with five RBIs.
 
"Nate hasn't played as much as he wanted, but he's never complained," Strain said. "He filled a tremendously important role. He catches bullpens, gets our guys ready, and this year he's gotten a chance to play a little more and he's done a really nice job."
 
Reliever Ryan Overboe is in his first season in the program and has made three appearances.
 
"He struggled to stay healthy, but he's been able to get in there lately and pitch some innings for us," Strain said. "He's another great teammate. He does everything – picks up, sets up BP, everything."
 
Clayton Burke has made 18 career appearances out of the bullpen.
 
"Another great person, great teammate, works his tail off," Strain said. "Like all these guys, he's going to have great success when he leaves here. I wish he could've been healthier, but he gave us everything he had."
 
Brady Mello has made 19 appearances, striking out 21 in 23 1/3 innings.
 
"Brady is a tremendous kid," Strain said. "Like Overboe, he's always doing everything, picking up and setting up stuff. He's thrown well when he's gotten his opportunities. He hasn't gotten as many as he'd like this year, but he's always ready."
 
And then there's Paschke. The everyday starter at shortstop in 2019, when he set the program record for at-bats by a freshman, he had half as many at-bats over the next three seasons. This year, with no obvious path for playing time, he fought his way back into the lineup at third base when the opportunity arose.
 
"He was the first recruit that I signed here," Strain said. "He stepped in and played great as a true freshman, but we brought in some other great players and he got behind some people and they played really well. It's tough with this team because we have a lot of guys who can play. But Zach never quit. He just kept being ready, and he finally got a chance to play third and he's done a nice job over there. He's played great defense and he's gotten some key hits. It's a story of perseverance."