DENVER – Now that's how to break a record.
With MSU Denver's all-time strikeout mark in his sights heading into the fifth inning,
Reichle Arcilise tied the record, broke it and extended it while striking out the side, putting a punctuation on a solid Friday doubleheader sweep of Minot State (N.D.).
MSU Denver slugged its way to a 16-3 victory in the opener before following the lead of Arcilise to an 8-4 win in the nightcap.
Arcilise finished his outing in style.
"I finally found my tempo and my rhythm," Arcilise said.
Many in the Assembly Athletic Complex crowd recognized that Arcilise had broken the record on the second out and cheered loudly. But Arcilise still had some work to do.
"I was thinking, 'We've got two outs here, let me not give up a solo pump here," Arcilise said. "That would look bad.
"I think it will hit later tonight or tomorrow. It feels weird that it happened at the beginning of the year when there's so much more to go."
MSU Denver coach
Ryan Strain considered leaving Arcilise in for another inning, but following the post-inning announcement and handshakes all around in the dugout, the timing was right to call it a night. Arcilise allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out six while walking three.
"His tempo wasn't good early," Strain said. "He didn't look quite right, his pitches were up, and he wasn't sharp. But all of a sudden his tempo picked up and he really pitched well at the end."
Arcilise now has 204 career strikeouts, surpassing the previous program mark of 202 by Ted Jamison, who wrapped up his career in 2010. He's 16-8 as a Roadrunner, tying Austin Stone for sixth in program history in wins.
"He's been impressive since he's been here," Strain said. "He's done a little bit of everything, working out of the bullpen and as a starter. When he's on and is out there competing, he's really good. He's going to be one of the best pitchers to have ever pitched in our program."
Jack Slominski delivered a pitching gem of his own in the nine-inning opener, allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings.
"When Jack pitches like that, it gives us a chance, and when our offense does what it's supposed to do, good things are going to happen for us," Strain said. "The biggest difference now is that we're getting hits up and down the lineup, and we're getting big hits with runners in scoring position."
Andrew Biddle opened the bottom of the first with a triple that bounced over the head of the center fielder, and he didn't slow down the rest of the day, going 4-for-5 in the opener and 2-for-3 in the second game. He was a double shy of the cycle in the first game.
"I'm just trying to give the offense a spark and keep the momentum going," said Biddle, who missed time early in the season with injury and illness. "It's definitely easier when you get more at-bats. You start to get more comfortable in the box. And I think I'm starting to find the spot I wanted to be at the beginning of the year."
Biddle is now batting .438 (21-for-48).
"He's quick, he's got a compact swing, he's got some bat speed and he competes with everything he's got," Strain said. "He's doing a really nice job at the top of the lineup."
MSU Denver (9-8) banged out 19 hits in the opener, with
Jayden Cordova joining Biddle with homers.
Hayes Edens drove in three in the second game.
"That's the best we've played, all the way around, all season," Strain said.
