DENVER – On paper, or computer screen, it may seem like a mismatch.
 
But MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain will always be leery of New Mexico Highlands and coach Shannon Hunt.
 
"They'll play hard," Strain said. "His guys always play hard. They're tough kids because they have a lot of challenges and he makes them tough."
 
MSU Denver, 26-8 overall and 11-5 for second place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, heads to Highlands (2-28, 1-11) for a four-game series this week. Games include a 3 p.m. matchup Thursday, a noon doubleheader Friday and a single game at noon Saturday.

MSU Denver is tied for 30th in the Collegiate Baseball Division II national rankings and is once again receiving votes in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 poll.
 
The Roadrunners, disappointed three weeks ago after winning just one of four games in a big league-opening series at Colorado Mesa, has won 10 of 12 since. That includes 10 of 11 after losing the opening game of a series to UCCS.
 
And, after a somewhat disappointing 3-1 series win at Regis two weekends ago, MSU Denver seemed to be clicking on nearly all cylinders last week while sweeping a four-game series against CSU Pueblo and knocking the ThunderWolves out of second place.
 
"I think we were shocked after the Mesa series," Strain said. "We thought we probably should have gotten two (wins). If we had, I don't think we would have lost the first game against UCCS – that was a little bit of a hangover. We didn't play great in the last game against Regis, let them hang around and give it away at the end.
 
"But then we bounced back against a Pueblo team that was playing really well. To pitch the way we pitched, especially other than one inning, and to swing the bats the way we did – they threw three starters at us with ERAs under 4.00, and the guy who pitched the best was the other starter – that was nice to see."
 
Offensively, the Roadrunners continue to lead Division II in batting average (.370), hits (447), doubles (107), runs (386), and slugging percentage (.630) while ranking second in home runs (65) and third in on-base percentage (.467).
 
Ross Smith leads Division II in doubles with 19 and is eighth in total bases (102). Cam Yuran is second in runs (54), fifth in walks (32), tied for ninth in doubles (15) and 10^th in total bases (99). Zach Schuler is seventh in RBIs (51). Jake Williams is ninth in total bases (100) and 10^th in RBIs (49). Tanner Garner is tied for ninth in doubles (15) and 11^th with a .455 batting average.
 
One of the main keys is second baseman and leadoff hitter Cody Schultz, who is fifth nationally in runs (51).
 
In last weekend's sweep, Schultz batted .571 (8-for-14) with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs while scoring five runs. He also drew two walks and was hit by a pitch, giving him a .647 on-base percentage and a .929 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.576. For good measure, he made the pivot at second on three outstanding double plays, and he made a terrific running catch on a popup hit to short center field.
 
For the season, Schultz is second in the RMAC in runs, tied for second (behind Smith) with 57 hits, third with 13 stolen bases, fourth with 95 total bases, fifth with 23 walks, sixth with 39 RBIs, sixth with a .521 on-base percentage, tied for sixth with 13 doubles, eighth with a .422 average, and 10th with a 1.225 OPS.
 
"There's one second baseman in this league who gets that ball, and it's him," Strain said of the running catch. "He's so athletic. He's played really well. He's played great defense and then he gets on base and puts pressure on the other teams, and that's what you need in the leadoff spot."