LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The 30^th-ranked MSU Denver baseball team picked up where it left off, scoring 10 first-inning runs Friday to set the tone for a doubleheader sweep at New Mexico Highlands by 22-7 and 13-5.
 
"It was really nice to get off to a good start like that," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "We were able to keep it there and we were able to get some guys some at-bats and some innings."
 
The Roadrunners, who scored 20 runs in Thursday's series opener, will look to complete the sweep in a single game Saturday at noon.
 
The first-inning outburst included two different RBI doubles by Ross Smith, as well as one each for Zach Schuler and Zach Paschke. Nate Madrid and Gavin Schmeh each had run-scoring singles.
 
Cody Schultz finished the game 3-for-5 with a homer, six RBIs and four runs scored, while Smith was 3-for-6 with four RBIs. Highlands helped the Roadrunners' cause with seven errors.
 
Reichle Arcilise (5-1) pitched four innings to get the win in the seven-inning game.
 
The second game was much closer. The Roadrunners trailed 2-1 before scoring six runs in the top of the fifth, and then after giving up three in the bottom half to make it a 7-5 game, MSU Denver added four in the sixth and two more in the seventh and final inning.
 
Jake Williams had five RBIs with a three-run homer in the fifth and a two-run double in the sixth as each of the top six batters in the order had two hits. Keegan Vialpando drove in three runs.
 
"Jake's first couple of at-bats of the day weren't real good – he got the first two outs of the first inning," Strain said. "But he kept battling and really swung the bat well in the second game. The home run was big for us. It woke us up out of our slumber."
 
Andrew Hayes (6-1) got the win with five innings of work, and the Roadrunners took no chances and had set-up man Zane Covey and closer Eric Cox work the final two innings.