GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Despite an impressive offensive fightback, MSU Denver saw its RMAC Tournament run come to an end Saturday afternoon with a 13-11 loss to fifth-seeded Colorado School of Mines.
The Roadrunners closed the tournament with a 38-16 overall record and will now await Sunday night's NCAA Tournament selection show at 8 p.m. to learn whether their season will continue in the national postseason.
MSU Denver's offense produced 12 hits and scored in six different innings, but an explosive middle stretch from Mines proved too much to overcome.
Jared Swarbrick turned in one of the best performances of the season for the Roadrunners, going 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBIs, including a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth inning. Swarbrick accounted for nearly half of MSU Denver's hits and consistently sparked rallies throughout the afternoon.
Noah Wicks also reached base four times, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks and an RBI, while Gavin Schmeh added a 2-for-5 effort with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Roadrunners jumped out early with a two-run first inning after Wicks delivered an RBI single and Lathan Buzard added a sacrifice fly. However, Mines immediately answered with back-to-back solo home runs to tie the game.
MSU Denver regained the lead in the third inning when Royce Vandine drove in Wicks with an RBI single, but the momentum shifted quickly in the bottom half of the inning. The Orediggers erupted for four runs, to take a 6-3 advantage.
After Gavin Schmeh and Brooks Rasmussen reached base, Swarbrick launched a three-run homer to center field, tying the game at 6-6 and briefly swinging momentum back toward MSU Denver.
That momentum proved short-lived as Mines responded with its decisive inning in the bottom of the fourth. The Orediggers plated seven runs on eight hits, using three home runs and several extra-base hits to build a 13-6 lead.
Schmeh drove in a run with a single in the fifth inning before the Roadrunners added three more runs in the sixth. An RBI hit-by-pitch from Alek Martinez, a bases-loaded walk drawn by Brayden Oram and an RBI fielder's choice from Schmeh trimmed the deficit to 13-10.
The Roadrunners threatened again in the ninth inning after Swarbrick singled and Wicks walked to load the bases. Michael Deitz later drew a hit-by-pitch that forced home a run, but Mines recorded the final two outs to close out the victory.
While the offense kept MSU Denver within striking distance late, the Roadrunners' bullpen settled the game down after the fourth inning. Alejandro Maltos-Garcia, Drew Peters and Carter Swan combined for 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, helping give the offense opportunities to chip away at the deficit.
The loss marked the end of the RMAC Tournament for the Roadrunners, who now turn their attention toward the NCAA Tournament selection show Sunday evening to see if their strong regular season resume will earn them a spot in the national field.
