DENVER — The MSU Denver Roadrunners opened their 2026 home slate in spectacular fashion, securing a doubleheader sweep over Montana State-Billings at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
With these two victories, the Roadrunners improve to 3-3 on the season, highlighted by a gritty seventh-inning comeback and a dominant mercy-rule performance in game two.
GAME ONE (MSU Denver 7, Montana State-Billings 6)
In the opening contest, MSU Denver proved they could play through pressure. The Roadrunners jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cheyenne Prieto singled up the middle to score Brooklyn Enny. However, the momentum shifted as the Yellowjackets surged to a 4-1 lead by the third inning and eventually held a 6-3 advantage entering the final frame.
The bottom of the seventh inning proved to be magical for the Roadrunners. Shay Cwelich sparked the rally with a leadoff double, later scoring on an RBI groundout by Mackenzie Pearson. With two outs and the season's first home win on the line, Victoria Pearson and Janessa Esquibel kept the inning alive with back-to-back hits. Brooklyn Enny then delivered a massive, game-tying two-RBI double to right field, scoring both runners. The comeback was completed when Neila Lucero, who led the team with three hits in the game, lined a single to right to drive in Neila Fee for the 7-6 walk-off victory.
Prieto provided much of the early power, finishing the game with two hits, two RBIs, and a home run in the sixth. In the circle, Brooklyn Levin (W, 1-0) was outstanding in relief. She entered for Natalie Romero and tossed 2.1 innings, surrendering only two hits and zero earned runs to earn her first win of the season.
GAME TWO (MSU Denver 12, Montana State-Billings 1)
The second contest was a display of pure offensive dominance as MSU Denver secured a 12-1 mercy-rule victory in just five innings. While the Roadrunners built a 2-0 lead in the second, the definitive turning point came during a staggering 10-run third inning. MSU Denver sent the entire lineup to the plate, racking up 10 hits in the frame to effectively end the contest early.
Victoria Pearson and Zoe Stanzyk were the primary catalysts, each driving in four runs. Stanzyk was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Pearson anchored the top of the lineup with two separate two-RBI singles. The middle of the order remained relentless, as Brooklyn Enny, Shay Cwelich, and Cheyenne Prieto all turned in multi-hit performances.
In the circle, Kianna Butler (W, 2-0) was in total control. She earned her second win of the year by tossing a complete five-inning game, allowing just one earned run on four hits. Her efficiency allowed the Roadrunners to close out the sweep and move back to .500 for the season.
