PUEBLO, Colo. — MSU Denver came away with a hard-fought split on the road Sunday, taking one of two from No. 2 RMAC foe CSU Pueblo to move to 30-16 overall and 23-13 in conference play, closing out the series against one of the league's top teams with momentum.
GAME ONE: CSU Pueblo 4, MSU Denver 0
The Roadrunners had chances early but couldn't break through, falling in the opener despite putting traffic on the bases. Brooklyn Enny was a bright spot offensively, reaching base three times with a 2-for-3 effort and a walk, but MSU Denver couldn't break through at the plate.
CSU Pueblo struck first in the opening inning, using a pair of singles to manufacture a 1-0 lead, and that early momentum held up as the ThunderWolves gradually added on. Natalie Romero got the start in the circle and battled through 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, but didn't get much run support.
GAME TWO: MSU Denver 8, CSU Pueblo 6
MSU Denver flipped the script in game two, using a big early offensive surge to power past CSU Pueblo and earn the split.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Roadrunners responded immediately in the second inning when Mackenzie Pearson launched a two-run home run to give MSU Denver its first lead of the day. That swing proved to be a major turning point, igniting an offense that stayed aggressive throughout.
The third inning broke things open. Lexi Gephart got things started by reaching base, and a sequence of hits — including RBI knocks from Trinity Kennemer and Brooklyn Enny — helped MSU Denver take advantage of a CSU Pueblo error to build a 5-1 lead . The Roadrunners continued to apply pressure in the fourth and fifth innings, with Victoria Pearson driving in a run and Mackenzie Pearson adding to her big day with an RBI single as part of an 8-2 cushion.
Offensively, MSU Denver was balanced and relentless. Victoria Pearson went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, Kennemer added two hits and an RBI, while Cheyenne Prieto reached base three times and scored twice. Mackenzie Pearson led the way with three RBIs, highlighted by her home run, and Miranda McCoy chipped in two hits. Gephart also made an impact at the bottom of the order, scoring twice and working a walk.
In the circle, Samantha Mader earned the win (5-2), going five innings and allowing four runs while navigating early and middle-inning pressure.
CSU Pueblo made things interesting late, highlighted by a three-run sixth inning that cut the deficit to 8-5, forcing MSU Denver to turn to the bullpen.
Kianna Butler entered and closed the door over the final two innings to earn her second save, allowing two runs but stranding key runners — including escaping a tense seventh inning where CSU Pueblo brought the tying run to the plate before sealing the win with a strikeout.
