GOLDEN, Colo. — MSU Denver softball extended its winning streak and strengthened its position in the RMAC standings Friday afternoon, sweeping a conference doubleheader from Colorado School of Mines at Joe Coors Field.
The Roadrunners claimed a 7-2 victory in Game One before erupting offensively in a 13-7 win in Game Two, improving to 16-6 overall and 11-3 in RMAC play while stretching their winning streak to six games.
Game One: MSU Denver 7, Colorado School of Mines 2
MSU Denver used timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to take control in the opener, while pitcher Natalie Romero delivered a complete-game effort in the circle. Romero (7-3) allowed just two runs on four hits, striking out three across seven innings to earn the win.
The Roadrunners broke through first in the third inning when Zoe Stanzyk lined an RBI single up the middle to score Cheyenne Prieto, giving MSU Denver a 1-0 lead. Colorado School of Mines answered to tie the game in the bottom half, but the Roadrunners quickly regained momentum in the fourth.
That inning featured one of the game's turning points. With runners on the corners, the Pearson twins helped manufacture a run, as Mackenzie Pearson stole home during a first-and-third situation, putting MSU Denver ahead 2-1. Moments later, Natalie Shellhorn delivered an RBI single that brought in another run to extend the lead to 3-1.
Mines trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but Romero settled in and kept the Orediggers off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
The Roadrunners created separation in the sixth inning with a four-run burst. Shellhorn drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 4-2 before Cheyenne Prieto ripped an RBI double down the line. Brooklyn Enny followed with an RBI single and Stanzyk added another RBI groundout, capping the inning and stretching the lead to 7-2.
Stanzyk finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Enny, Stanzyk, and Kassidy Juarez all recorded multi-hit games. Juarez also drew two walks as MSU Denver totaled nine hits and six walks in the contest.
Romero closed the door in the seventh, retiring the final three batters to secure the Roadrunners' fifth consecutive victory.
Game Two: MSU Denver 13, Colorado School of Mines 7
Game Two turned into an offensive showcase, highlighted by a historic performance from Brooklyn Enny, who blasted two grand slams and drove in eight runs to lead the Roadrunners to the doubleheader sweep.
Colorado School of Mines struck first, but MSU Denver answered in the second inning with aggressive baserunning. In another first-and-third situation, the Roadrunners executed a perfectly timed play to steal home, tying the game at 1-1.
The defining moment came in the third inning when Enny stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam, her seventh home run of the season, giving MSU Denver a commanding 5-1 lead and briefly tying her for the RMAC home-run lead.
Mines rallied to even the score at 5-5, but the Roadrunners quickly responded. Victoria Pearson delivered an RBI single to break the tie and put MSU Denver back in front.
The Roadrunners opened things up in the fifth inning. Mackenzie Pearson crushed a three-run homer to snap another tie and give MSU Denver a 9-6 advantage. Later in the same inning, Enny returned to the plate with the bases loaded again and delivered an even bigger blow — another grand slam, her second of the game, pushing the
Roadrunners ahead by seven and giving her eight RBIs in the contest. The blast also moved her into sole possession of the RMAC lead with eight home runs this season.
In the circle, Sam Mader provided critical relief to secure the win. Mader tossed 4.2 innings, allowing two runs while striking out three, stabilizing the game after the early back-and-forth scoring and earning the victory.
With the sweep, MSU Denver sits at 16-6 overall and 11-3 in RMAC play and has now won six straight games. The Roadrunners will look to complete the series victory when they return to the field Saturday for another doubleheader against Colorado School of Mines.
