DENVER – The empire struck back Sunday, as long-time RMAC power Colorado Mesa bounced back from a Saturday loss to sweep a doubleheader against MSU Denver 13-3 and 16-14.
 
The series concludes with a single game Monday at noon.
 
"We've just got to regroup," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "It's really disappointing after how well we played yesterday to come out and play like this today. There's no excuse for it, but there's nothing we can do about it. It's no different than yesterday, today is over and now we've got to find a way to come back and get a split."
 
MSU Denver, which won 12-0 Saturday in a game shortened to eight innings by the league's 12-run rule, trailed just 2-0 through four innings in Sunday's opener before Colorado Mesa pulled away.
 
In the second game, Mesa ran out to a 14-2 lead after 3 ½ innings, but MSU Denver cut the deficit to 14-10 after five innings and 16-13 after six.
 
In the seventh and final inning, MSU Denver got the leadoff runner on base, scored a run on a two-out throwing error, but couldn't capitalize with the tying run at the plate to end the game.
 
Colorado Mesa scored six unearned runs in the second game, and likely could have been held to less.
 
"In the second game, we didn't make plays," Strain said. "(Starting pitcher Dylan) Webber was fine. He was giving us chances, making pitches. We had double plays we didn't make, other plays we didn't make, a fly ball to the outfield where we didn't communicate and it falls.
 
"The inning they scored seven runs (the third), there's a pretty good chance they shouldn't have scored if we just make routine plays."

Cam Yuran homered in each game for MSU Denver.