DENVER – It was a frustrating day on the ballfield Sunday, but in the end MSU Denver got one inning to go its way.
 
The Roadrunners rallied for three runs in the seventh and final inning of the second game of a doubleheader at the Assembly Athletic Complex and earned a 7-5 victory over UCCS. It was the only inning that ended with the Roadrunners in the lead all day – UCCS won the nine-inning opening game 5-2.
 
MSU Denver batted first despite playing on its home field since the games were originally scheduled to be played at UCCS.
 
Zach Schuler led off the seventh with a home run that tied the game 5-5, and Tyler Tobey delivered a pinch-hit double to push the go-ahead run across. Caleb Albaugh's RBI single added an insurance run for Dylan Webber (3-1), who pitched four scoreless relief innings for the victory.
 
"Finally putting it together in the second game was big for our momentum going into tomorrow," Tobey said.
 
The Roadrunners are now 11-13 overall and 2-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The big swing by Schuler was the All-American's fifth homer of the season and came after a little tip from assistant coach Joe Strain.
 
"It was see ball, hit ball, hit it hard," Schuler said. "I've been overthinking. Joe came up to me and said, 'Just see it and hit it.' I kind of cleared my mind and did it."
 
After Schuler parked one onto Rio Court, Cam Yuran singled. One out later, Tobey pinch hit and smoked his double to center, scoring Yuran from first.
 
"I'm really fortunate I got that opportunity," Tobey said.
 
Said coach Ryan Strain: "It's tough for guys who aren't playing all the time, but you've got to produce to stay in. He's made some significant swing changes over the last few weeks, worked extremely hard, and fortunately he was ready to go. He got himself into a good hitter's count and he was able to get a pitch he could drive."
 
Webber, who allowed only three hits, with no walks and five strikeouts, hit the leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh, but got two groundouts around a strikeout to end it.
 
"My slider was working and I was locating my fastball, and I had good defense behind me," Webber said. "I was just trying to fill up the zone and give us a chance to come back."
 
MSU Denver starter Jack Slominski was excellent through five innings in the opening game, but UCCS struck for four runs in the sixth, with the final three coming on a home run.
 
"Jack gave us a chance," Strain said. "He would want one pitch back, but when we give up five runs through nine innings, we should win those games.
 
"For the day, it was one of our better pitching performances, but we only got one win. That's frustrating, but we're going to need two more good ones tomorrow and we're going to have to be better offensively."