PUEBLO, Colo. – MSU Denver softball battled in a tightly contested RMAC showdown on Saturday afternoon, earning a split against the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves at the Rawlings Softball Complex.
The Roadrunners now sit at 29-15 overall and 22-12 in conference play with one day remaining in the series.
Game One: CSU Pueblo 4, MSU Denver 3
MSU Denver came out swinging early, plating two runs in the top of the first inning to seize momentum. Victoria Pearson sparked the rally with a leadoff double before Brooklyn Enny drove her in with an RBI single. Moments later, Trinity Kennemer delivered an RBI double to make it 2-0.
CSU Pueblo answered immediately in the bottom half and gradually chipped away. The ThunderWolves tied the game in the fourth inning following a sacrifice bunt and RBI single, shifting the momentum back to the home side.
Kennemer provided a key response in the fifth inning, blasting a solo home run to give MSU Denver a 3-2 lead—one of the biggest turning points of the game. However, the advantage wouldn't hold. Pueblo evened things again in the sixth inning after a two-out RBI double, capitalizing on a late scoring opportunity.
The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh, when CSU Pueblo delivered a walk-off home run to take the 4-3 victory.
At the plate, Pearson (2-for-4, run, double), Enny (2-for-4, RBI), and Kennemer (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) led the offense, while Mackenzie Pearson added a hit and a walk.
In the circle, Natalie Romero went the distance, throwing six innings while allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four. She was charged with the loss as CSU Pueblo's McKenna James earned the complete-game win.
Game Two: MSU Denver 3, CSU Pueblo 1 (8 inn.)
The Roadrunners bounced back in a pitcher's duel in game two, using timely hitting and dominant relief work to secure a 3-1 extra-inning victory.
MSU Denver got on the board in the third inning thanks to Neila Fee, who launched a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead in the game.
Sam Mader was outstanding in the start, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing just one run and striking out three, keeping the Roadrunners within striking distance.
The breakthrough came in the eighth inning. With the game deadlocked, Cheyenne Prieto delivered the defining swing of the day—crushing a go-ahead home run to put MSU Denver in front for good. She finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and the game-winning blast.
Brooklyn Enny continued her strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk to help set the table offensively.
Out of the bullpen, Kianna Butler was dominant, earning the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings and striking out three of the four batters she faced to shut the door.
MSU Denver will look to carry that momentum into Sunday's doubleheader as the Roadrunners aim to secure a series win in a critical stretch of RMAC play.
