DENVER — MSU Denver used a pair of explosive offensive performances to snap its four-game losing streak Sunday afternoon, sweeping a road doubleheader against Regis to open RMAC play.
The Roadrunners powered their way to a 17-1 win in Game One before completing the Sunday sweep with a 10-5 victory in Game Two, improving to 11-5 overall. Regis fell to 9-11 on the season.
MSU Denver will close the series Monday with another doubleheader.
Game One: MSU Denver 17, Regis 1
The Roadrunners wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, jumping out early and then blowing the game open with a massive fourth inning.
Noah Wicks started the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double, plating Erubiel Ortiz to give MSU Denver a 1-0 lead. The Roadrunners added another run in the second when Alek Martinez tripled and later scored on a wild pitch.
The game shifted decisively in the fourth inning when MSU Denver erupted for seven runs. Brayden Oram delivered an RBI single to start the rally before the Roadrunners loaded the bases and continued to pile on. The inning's biggest swing came when Blake Wilson launched a three-run home run, pushing the lead to 9-0.
The offense kept rolling in the fifth when Lathen Buzard crushed a three-run homer, extending the advantage to 12-0 and putting the game firmly out of reach. Wicks headlined the offensive outburst with a perfect 5-for-5 performance, scoring twice and driving in two runs while adding a stolen base. He finished just a home run shy of the cycle.
MSU Denver finished with 18 hits, with several Roadrunners enjoying big days at the plate. Martinez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Brooks Rasmussen was 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a walk. Gavin Schmeh added two hits and scored three runs.
On the mound, Jake Syverson earned the win to improve to 2-0, allowing just one hit across four scoreless innings while striking out two. The bullpen preserved the lead the rest of the way as MSU Denver cruised to the 17-1 victory.
Game Two: MSU Denver 10, Regis 5
The Roadrunners carried their offensive momentum into the second game to secure two wins.
Royce Vandine paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring twice and driving in four runs. He opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning and later delivered a two-run homer in the fourth, giving MSU Denver a 3-0 lead.
MSU Denver stretched the lead in the fourth when Blake Wilson tripled home a run, and the Roadrunners broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning.
During the rally, Noah Wicks blasted a solo home run, Vandine doubled home another run and Brooks Rasmussen and Wilson each drove in runs as MSU Denver built a commanding 9-0 advantage.
The Rangers attempted to rally in the sixth with a four-run inning, but the Roadrunners maintained control and answered with another run on a Michael Deitz solo homer.
Brayden McCollough earned the win for MSU Denver, improving to 3-1 after throwing 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out three.
Rasmussen continued his strong day at the plate with his second multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base, while Buzard also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Wilson added two hits and two RBIs from the leadoff spot.
With the sweep, the Roadrunners improved to 11-5 overall and gained early momentum in RMAC play. MSU Denver will look to extend its winning streak Monday when the Roadrunners return to Regis Baseball Field for another doubleheader to close out the four-game series.
