GRAND JUNCTION, Colo -- The MSU Denver Roadrunners took down the Regis Rangers Thursday evening by a score of 9-0, and will advance to the semi-final round of the RMAC Championship Tournament against Colorado Mesa at 11 a.m. MT. 

This is MSU Denver's first shutout all season and their first since April 7 of last season in their 17-0 win over New Mexico Highlands. 

Senior Brad Helton was masterful on the mound for the Roadrunners. He hurled 7 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven. Helton carried a no-hitter through 4.2 innings. 

Kobe Krenz and Haydn Benoit shut the door on the Rangers, each tossing a scoreless inning to secure the win for the Roadrunners.

MSU Denver had eight hits in this one, and also found their way on base with seven walks. Erubiel Ortiz got on-base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs. Andrew Biddle also reached base three times with two walks and two runs. He went 1-for-3 on the night.

"It took us a minute to get going," head coach Ryan Strain said. "They have a good pitching staff, we got some big hits when we needed to and we have good hitters. It gives us a good chance to win."

Easton Amundson put this one out of reach with a three-run shot in the ninth inning for a 9-0 MSUD lead. It was his 31st homer of the year, which now leads the nation for NCAA Division II baseball. The previous individual home run record for MSU Denver was 25 set by Matt Malkin in 2019. Amundson ended the game with 4 RBIs.

Andrew Graham smacked a solo home run in the sixth inning for a 3-0 Roadrunner lead for his first hit of the contest. He smacked a second hit in the ninth inning and ended the night with a 2-for-5 evening at the plate. 

UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will square off against the conference regular season champs, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks tomorrow at 11 a.m. MT.