SAN ANTONIO – The Roadrunners' offense struggled in two losses to St. Mary's on the road in non-conference play on Friday. 
 
Game One:
 
Timely hitting eluded MSU Denver in the first game of the doubleheader, falling 3-0. The Roadrunners had runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings, including twice with runners on third, but failed to bring any of them home. In the top of the first inning, Janessa Esquibel singled and later reached third on an Alexia Boring double. But Jaiden Geist and Miki Berg lined out and popped out respectively to end the inning. 
 
In the third inning, Esquibel once again singled to start the inning and later reached second on a Boring walk. But Geist hit into an inning-ending double play to end the threat. 
 
Esquibel was the only Roadrunner to have two hits in the game, while Boring provided the only extra base hit with that double in the first.
 
Natalie Romero picked up the loss, but she pitched well from the circle going the full six innings and giving up just three earned runs on five hits. She struck out three Rattlers on the day. 
 
All three runs came in the third inning for the home team, as St. Mary's started the inning with three straight base hits. But Romero was able to battle out of the jam and get three consecutive outs to avoid a bigger inning. 
 
Game Two:
 
The Rattlers offense exploded for nine runs in the 9-1 St. Mary's victory in game two, which included a six-run second inning. 
 
Starting pitcher Sam Mader registered two quick outs in the inning, but then a single, a walk and a three-run single allowed the Rattlers to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Then a three-run home run pushed the lead out to 6-0 and ending the day for Mader.
 
Prieto finished the game in relief giving up three earned runs on five hits in four innings of work. 
 
MSU Denver's offense managed just one run on three hits in six innings with Prieto recording two of those hits. The lone run came in the fourth after Katie Maney singled, stole second and was driven in by Prieto. 
 
The Roadrunners will look to rebound on Saturday, as they will head back to Austin, Texas for a lone game against St. Edward's at 10 a.m. mountain time.