DENVER — MSU Denver softball continued its early-season surge Saturday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference home doubleheader against Colorado School of Mines with a 6-5 win in game one and a commanding 7-1 victory in game two.
With the sweep, the Roadrunners improve to 5-3 overall and have now won four straight after opening the year 1-3.
Game One: MSU Denver 6, Colorado School of Mines 5
The opener was a back-and-forth battle that saw MSU Denver strike early and withstand a late rally from the Orediggers.
Neila Lucero wasted no time setting the tone, ripping a two-RBI single in the first inning to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead. The offense continued to apply pressure in the third, as Cheyenne Prieto and Lucero each delivered RBI singles before Natalie Shellhorn added another run-scoring knock to extend the advantage to 5-1.
Prieto tacked on her second RBI of the afternoon with a single in the fourth, pushing the lead to 6-2 and providing what ultimately proved to be a critical insurance run.
Colorado School of Mines responded by chipping away, tightening the game late and bringing the tying run into play. That's when the Roadrunners' pitching staff delivered.
Sam Mader earned her first win of the season after a steady four innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Kianna Butler was outstanding in relief, shutting the door over the final three innings. Butler surrendered just two hits, allowed no runs and picked up her first save of the year to secure the 6-5 victory.
Offensively, MSU Denver was fueled by production throughout the lineup. Victoria Pearson set the table at the top, going 2-for-2 with a team-high three runs scored. Lucero finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Prieto also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The duo combined to drive in five of the team's six runs in a balanced attack that proved just enough to outlast Mines' late push.
Game Two: MSU Denver 7, Colorado School of Mines 1
The Roadrunners essentially decided the contest in the bottom of the first inning, sending a parade of hitters to the plate in a seven-run outburst.
Prieto opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Natalie Shellhorn. Neila Fee followed with an RBI knock of her own, and Trinity Kennemer delivered a clutch two-RBI double to left field to make it 4-1.
Mackenzie Pearson then cleared the bases with a two-run triple to right, breaking the game open before her sister, Victoria Pearson, capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle. By the time the dust settled, MSU Denver had seized complete control.
From there, Natalie Romero took over in the circle. Romero turned in her best performance of the season, tossing six strong innings while allowing just one run on two hits and striking out four. After the second inning, she did not allow another baserunner, cruising to her first win of the year and silencing the Mines lineup.
Eight different Roadrunners recorded a hit in the game, showcasing the depth of the lineup. Victoria Pearson added another multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Kennemer's two-run double proved to be a key early turning point.
With dominant pitching and consistent offense in both contests, MSU Denver completed the sweep in convincing fashion. The Roadrunners now carry momentum into their next stretch of games, riding a four-game winning streak and building confidence as the season continues to take shape.
