PUEBLO, Colo. – MSU Denver got outstanding starting pitching and more than enough offensive support on Friday to sweep a doubleheader at CSU Pueblo, 10-7 and 7-1, and clinch a series victory.
 
The Roadrunners (17-16 overall, 8-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will go for a series sweep in Saturday's noon game.
 
Brad Helton (3-3) allowed two runs on five hits, with four walks and eight strikeouts, while working six innings of the seven-inning first game. Then Reichle Arcilise pitched a seven-inning, complete-game six-hitter in the nightcap, allowing just an unearned run, while walking three and striking out six.
 
"When you pitch well, you've always got a chance," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "It's been nice to see. Pueblo is a good hitting team, and all three of our starters (including Thursday starter Jack Slominski) have been really good.
 
"When you pitch like that, and when you have some of our offensive guys starting to come on like they have, it's nice to see."
 
Tyler Tobey paced the Roadrunners' offense with three hits in each game – he doubled and tripled in the opener, then had a double and a homer in the second game.
 
Andrew Biddle hit two homers in the first game and was 4-for-9 for the day, and Jesse Velders was 5-for-8, including a double and a homer in the nightcap.
 
"Tyler is really talented and he was up and down and in and out of the lineup, but now that he's gotten a chance to stay in there with some of the injuries we've had, he's taken advantage of it," Strain said. "Velders had to get used to how he was being pitched at this level, but he's made some nice adjustments. With him and Biddle at the top of the lineup, it's been nice having those guys getting on base and setting things up."
 
In the opener, Biddle's two-run, second-inning homer made it 5-1, and his solo shot in the sixth made it 9-2. Cal Walsh homered in the seventh made it 10-2.
 
The Roadrunners' bullpen surrendered five runs in the final inning, but was eventually able to close the door.
 
In the second game, Tobey hit a two-run homer in the third and Velders a two-run homer in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
 
"Helton really dominated, and then Reichle pitched one of his better games," Strain said. "It was frustrating because our bullpen gave up five runs in the seventh inning of the first game and kind of give them some momentum going into the second game, but Reichle came out and pitched well, we got the momentum back, and he kept the momentum with us."
 
MSU Denver moved into sole possession of fifth place in the RMAC, one game behind Colorado School of Mines, while CSU Pueblo fell to 17-14 overall and 6-9 for sixth place.