DENVER – Baseball and softball kicks off their 2025 seasons this week, while both basketball teams are battling for playoff positioning at home. 
 
SOFTBALL
Montana State-Billings vs MSU Denver, 4-game set, Saturday (noon) & Sunday (11am)
Head coach Annie Van Wetzinga leads her squad to their first series of the new year this weekend. They'll welcome in the Yellowjackets from Montana State-Billings at the Assembly Athletic Complex. The Roadrunners are coming off a third-place finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after recording a 33-11 record in conference. They just missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season and are eager to hit the field this season. They are led by eight seniors and by junior pitcher/utility player and all-region honoree Jenna Medhus. 
 
BASEBALL
MSU Denver at the First Pitch Invitational, Friday-Sunday
Head coach Ryan Strain will take his squad on the road for the start of their new season. They'll compete in Edmond, Oklahoma and will take on Emporia State, Central Oklahoma and Pittsburgh State from Friday, Jan 31 to Sunday Feb 2. The Roadrunners are coming off a 28-24 season where they earned a trip back to the RMAC Tournament. The squad is led by Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Region outfielder Jesse Velders, who led the RMAC in batting average at .460. 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
New Mexico Highlands vs MSU Denver, Thursday, 6:00 p.m.
Fort Lewis vs MSU Denver, Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
The Roadrunners went 1-1 last week and are in a dogfight for playoff seeding for the RMAC Tournament. Head coach Tanya Haave and her squad are back home this week and they'll first welcome in 5-5 New Mexico Highlands to the Auraria Event Center on Thursday night. That night the Roadrunners will put on their annual "We Back Pat" night, where we honor the legacy of former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Pat Summit, who was the head coach of our very own Coach Haave. Then it's a date with the 2-8 Skyhawks from Fort Lewis on Saturday afternoon. 
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
New Mexico Highlands vs MSU Denver, Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
Fort Lewis vs MSU Denver, Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
The Roadrunners will look to get back on the winning track this week, as they continue conference play at home. Head coach Dan Ficke and his squad are taking on the Cowboys from New Mexico Highlands on Thursday night and the team will be honoring Coaches vs Cancer to raise funds for Cancer research. Then a big battle comes to Denver on Saturday afternoon as Fort Lewis comes in with a 7-3 RMAC record and are hot having won four in a row. 
 
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Mines Winter Classic, Golden, Colo, Friday, All Day
University of Colorado Invitational, Boulder, Colo, All Day
After a great showing at the UCCS Invitational in Colorado Springs last weekend, the teams will split off and compete in two meets this upcoming Friday. At UCCS, Naleia Sowell once again had a great weekend, this time finishing first in the women's 200 meters and also broke the tape in the 400 meters. Teammate Jessica Hobson finished fifth in the 200 meters. On the men's side Jacob Simpson won the men's 200-meter dash in a time of 23.17 seconds, while two of the men's 4X400 relay teams finished third and seventh respectively. 
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS
MSU Denver at Wyoming, 4 p.m.
Head coach Bruno Campos will lead the Roadrunners to Laramie, Wyoming to take on the University of Wyoming. The team battled tough with Division I's Air Force last week and will take on the Cowgirls this Thursday in an exhibition match.