DENVER – Maybe this MSU Denver baseball offense isn't quite what it was in 2023, an historically preposterous group that led Division II in runs (11.2 per game), slugging percentage (.627) and doubles (3.0 per game) while ranking second in batting average (.357) and home runs (115) as well as third in hits (708) and sixth in on-base percentage (.453).
 
But this MSU Denver offense compares very favorably indeed to the Roadrunners offensive outfits from 2021 and 2022 which, last time we checked, were outstanding teams that compiled a combined record of 69-32, earned the program's first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament, and would have done so both years if the NCAA hadn't shrunk the 2021 field following the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"We're swinging it pretty well," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "I feel good about the lineup.
 
"I don't know where we're going to end up (compared to previous years), but we're not that far off. As up and down as it's been, and as many good hitters as we've had out at times … it's been pretty good."
 
The Roadrunners (23-19 overall, 14-10 and tied for third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will look to stay hot this weekend in a four-game series at Colorado Christian (5-32 overall, 3-17 at tied for last). Games are scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. (doubleheader) and Sunday at 1 p.m., but could change due to expected inclement weather.
 
With two postseason All-Americans and a preseason All-American returning from last year's juggernaut, MSU Denver still started more slowly than expected as newcomers joined the lineup.
 
But the growing pains appear to have ended with outfielders Andrew Biddle and Jesse Velders sparking the top of the lineup and the in-season emergence of players like Cal Walsh and Tyler Tobey.
 
"If we started the season over right now, and these guys would have an understanding of how they were going to be pitched, we'd have a bunch more wins right now," Strain said. "It's a different team than it was at the beginning of the year, especially on the offensive side. Their swings, their temperament, it looks more liked it used to look."
 
This year, MSU Denver is tied for the Division II lead with 125 doubles, ranks fourth in hits (483), fifth in runs (408), fifth in slugging percentage (.578) and 10^th in batting average (.339).
 
The Roadrunners are second nationally in doubles per game (2.98) and ninth in runs per game (9.71). They're ahead of the 2021 and 2022 teams' doubles output, and trail the 2022 team in scoring by 0.01 runs per game. Their on-base percentage and batting average is better than the 2021 and 2022 teams.
 
Velders, in particular, has been transcendent of late. The reigning NCBWA South Central Region Hitter of the Week after batting .684 (13-for-19) with six extra-base hits in a four-game series, he's up to a league-best .474 (third in Division II for the season) – within range of Torin Berge's school-record .487 in 1987.
 
"It doesn't surprise me that he's gone off like this," Strain said. "Maybe a little bit that the numbers are so good … but I knew what we were getting when we got him."
 
Meanwhile, veteran Caleb Albaugh, coming off an injury-plagued season, is closing in on the program's all-time hits record of 247 by Rusty Befus (1988-92). Albaugh has 235.
 
"That's pretty impressive," Strain said. "If he hadn't been hurt last year, he probably would have done it already. He's starting to come on, and he looks more like he did his first two years."
 
Despite Colorado Christian's record, the Cougars have played well of late, keeping their opponents to fewer than 10 runs in nine consecutive games.
 
"They've still got a couple of good arms that pitched for them last year, but they've lost some of their better guys, too," Strain said. "They played a tough schedule early, and their numbers haven't been as good this year."