DENVER – The Roadrunners split their doubleheader with the University of Mary on Saturday, taking game one 11-7 before dropping game two 5-3.
MSU Denver is now 2-7 overall, while the Marauders are now 2-4.
Game One:
Mary jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings after Noah Hull hit a three-run home run in the first, while Krece Papierski connected on a solo shot also in the first.
Erubiel Ortiz got the Red and Blue on the board, driving in
Andrew Biddle with a single to center field in the third inning.
MSU Denver was able to cut the Marauders lead to just two after
Tyler Tobey came through with a sacrifice fly and after
Cal Walsh doubled to left field bringing in
Cam Yuran in the fourth inning.
The fifth inning was the big inning for the home team, as they scored six runs, three of those coming on one swing by
Easton Amundson, who smashed a three-run round tripper. MSU Denver jumped out to a 9-5 lead and never looked back.
Mason Oakley earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth innings. The Roadrunners relievers did well pitching five innings and giving up just two runs on five hits.
Eight different Roadrunners had base hits, five of which had multiple hits. Biddle went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, Walsh went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two runs driven in and
Andrew Graham added two base hits, two walks and two runs scored.
MSU Denver scored a season-high 11 runs in the 11-7 victory. The win gave
Ryan Strain his 198
th as a head coach.
Game Two:
It was a great start for the Roadrunners after Amundson hit his second three-run home run on the day in the first inning.
But Mary starting pitcher Aiden Johnson wouldn't give up another run in the next five innings, giving up just those three earned runs on nine hits.
The Marauders didn't have a huge game-changing inning, but they peppered MSU Denver with seven hits and some small ball to score single runs in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Kieran Gaffney tied the game at 3-3 after connecting on a solo home run in the fifth inning. Mary then took the lead in the following inning after Marcus Butts started the sixth with a double. Luke Rhee put down a sacrifice bunt to move Butts to third. And Kalem Haney would help add an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to put UM up 4-3.
Mary relief pitcher Sam Hayen would come in to earn the save in the seventh to give his team the 5-3 win.
These two teams will go back at it tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at Noon mountain time.
