DENVER — MSU Denver Softball secured a Saturday RMAC doubleheader sweep over Adams State, winning 8-0 in six innings in game one before taking an 8-6 victory in game two at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
The Roadrunners improved to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in RMAC play following the conference wins and will wrap up the four-game series with another doubleheader Sunday.
Game One: MSU Denver 8, Adams State 0 (6 Inn.)
MSU Denver jumped on the Grizzlies early and never looked back while Natalie Romero delivered a dominant performance in the circle.
The Roadrunners opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Cheyenne Prieto singled up the middle to score Mackenzie Pearson, giving MSU Denver a 1-0 lead.
The biggest swing of the game came in the second inning. After Kassidy Juarez and Lexi Gephart reached base with singles, sophomore Natalie Shellhorn blasted a three-run home run to left field, the first home run of her collegiate career, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Romero faced her biggest challenge in the fourth inning when Adams State put two runners on with one out, but the right-hander forced a fielder's choice at the plate before recording a strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
The Roadrunners added insurance in the fifth inning. Prieto doubled to center field before Brooklyn Enny drove her in with an RBI double, and Zoe Stanzyk followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-0.
MSU Denver ended the game early in the sixth. After Shellhorn walked and Janessa Esquibel singled, a defensive error allowed one run to score before Enny delivered an RBI single, sealing the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Romero was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits with four strikeouts and no walks over six innings to earn the win and improve to 5-3 on the season
At the plate, Enny finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, Prieto added two hits and an RBI, and Shellhorn finished 1-2 with two runs, three RBIs, and a walk as MSU Denver totaled 12 hits in the opener.
Game Two: MSU Denver 8, Adams State 6
The Roadrunners responded from an early deficit behind a big day from Brooklyn Enny and a steady relief outing from Kianna Butler.
Adams State struck first with a four-run opening inning before MSU Denver answered immediately in the bottom half. After Victoria Pearson walked and Cheyenne Prieto singled, Enny crushed a three-run home run to left-center, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
MSU Denver tied the game in the second inning when Lexi Gephart doubled down the left-field line, stole third, and scored on Pearson's sacrifice fly.
Enny gave the Roadrunners their first lead in the third, launching her second home run of the game, a solo shot to center field that made it 5-4.
The decisive turning point came in the fourth inning. Kassidy Juarez opened the frame with a triple, and Gephart followed with an RBI double. Pearson added another run with an RBI groundout before Shellhorn doubled home a run, capping a three-run inning that pushed the lead to 8-4.
Adams State threatened again in the fifth, scoring two runs on a two-RBI double, but Butler settled in and shut the door the rest of the way.
After entering in relief during the second inning, Butler tossed six strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven to earn the victory and improve to 3-1 on the season. Starter Brooklyn Levin allowed four runs in the first inning before Butler stabilized the game.
Enny powered the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, while extending her hitting streak to seven games. Lexi Gephart went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Prieto finished 2-for-4, extending her streak of reaching base to all 18 games this season.
Prieto has been nearly unstoppable at the plate to open the season, putting together one of the most dominant offensive stretches in the RMAC. Through the first 18 games, Prieto leads the conference with a .620 batting average, while also topping the RMAC in slugging percentage (1.040), on-base percentage (.667), and OPS (1.707). Her production has also translated directly into runs for the Roadrunners, as she ranks third in the conference with 20 RBIs and third in total hits with 31. Prieto has consistently delivered in big moments while reaching base in every game this season, serving as a driving force behind MSU Denver's strong start at the plate.
MSU Denver will look to complete the series sweep Sunday when the Roadrunners host Adams State for the final doubleheader of the weekend.
