DENVER — The MSU Denver Roadrunners responded in a big way Saturday afternoon, taking both games of the doubleheader to sweep Regis and extend its dominance at home.
The Roadrunners improved to 28-14 overall and 21-11 in RMAC play, completing the series sweep and moving to an impressive 21-1 when playing at the Assembly Athletic Complex this season.
GAME ONE: MSU Denver 13, Regis 5 (5 inn.)
After falling behind early, MSU Denver wasted no time flipping the script in a high-powered offensive showing.
Regis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Roadrunners answered immediately with a four-run bottom half. Cheyenne Prieto ignited the rally with a two-run homer to tie the game, before Janessa Esquibel followed with an RBI single to give MSU Denver a 3-2 edge. Shay Cwelich capped the inning with an RBI triple, making it 4-2 and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
The back-and-forth continued in the second as Regis tied it at 4-4, but once again MSU Denver had the answer. Brooklyn Enny delivered the biggest swing of the inning, launching a two-run home run—her RMAC-leading 12th of the season—to put the Roadrunners back in front, 6-4.
From there, MSU Denver broke things open. An RBI single from Victoria Pearson in the third made it 7-4, before Prieto ripped a two-RBI double later in the inning to extend the lead to 9-4.
The decisive blow came in the fourth, when Cwelich knocked in another run before Pearson crushed a three-run homer to push the advantage to 13-4 and effectively put the game out of reach.
Pearson led the offensive explosion with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring four times and driving in four runs, including a home run and a double. Prieto added two hits and four RBIs, while Esquibel (2-for-3), Cwelich (3-for-3), and Enny (two RBIs, home run) powered a 13-hit attack.
In the circle, Natalie Romero (12-7) earned the win with a complete-game effort in the five-inning run-rule victory, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out one.
GAME TWO: MSU Denver 7, Regis 3
Game two featured a much tighter battle, but MSU Denver once again delivered in the biggest moments.
The Roadrunners struck first on a fielder's choice from Neila Fee, but Regis battled back to take a late lead before MSU Denver surged in the middle innings.
Trailing entering the fifth, Brooklyn Enny came through with an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game, sparking a rally. Trinity Kennemer followed with a clutch RBI double to tie the game at 3-3, before Fee delivered again with an RBI single up the middle to give MSU Denver a 4-3 lead.
A throwing error by Regis allowed another run to score, and the Roadrunners never looked back. In the sixth, Prieto added an RBI double to extend the lead to 6-3, and Enny capped the scoring with another RBI single to make it 7-3.
The top of the lineup carried the offense, accounting for all 10 hits in the game. Fee led the way with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs, while Prieto (2-for-3, three runs, RBI), Enny (2-for-4, two RBIs), and Pearson (2-for-4, run) continued their standout days at the plate.
In the circle, Kianna Butler was key out of the bullpen, earning the win after tossing 2.1 innings and allowing just one run to shut down Regis down the stretch.
MSU Denver's ability to respond to adversity in both games proved to be the difference, as the Roadrunners consistently answered Regis rallies with situational hitting and clutch execution.
