@RoadrunnerSB: MSU Denver Rallies for Scintillating Eighth-Inning Victory
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Trailing by three runs in the bottom of the eighth, MSU Denver rallied Thursday for a scintillating 6-5 victory over CSU Pueblo in the first round of the double-elimination Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
The third-seeded Roadrunners (41-16) advance to a winner's bracket game later Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against 10th-ranked and second-seeded Colorado Christian (47-6), which drew a first-round bye.
After sixth-seeded CSU Pueblo forged in front with three runs in the top of the eighth, MSU Denver answered immediately.
Seniors Shelby Robb and Miah Hartvigsen both singled, then All-RMAC second team utility player Genevieve Bower delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to right center, scoring Robb.
Then Miki Berg tied it up with a two-run double to right center.
MSU Denver's next two batters struck out, but then Katie Maney beat out an infield hit that the shortstop fielded deep in the hole, and Berg never stopped running to score the winning run from second, sliding home ahead of the tag at home plate on a late throw from first base.
"I was really proud of our ability to bounce back," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "We stayed focused and in the eighth inning our hitters didn't try to do too much."
Before the wild eighth, the game had been scoreless since the first, when CSU Pueblo scored two in the top half and MSU Denver – in a preview of what would come later – answered right back with two of its own.
Hannah DiFabio and Kami Grammerstorf started the first-inning rally with back-to-back singles and, after Robb reached while grounding into a fielder's choice that erased Grammerstorf, Hartvigsen delivered a game-tying, two-run double.
DiFabio was 3-for-3 Thursday to lead a 12-hit attack.
In the circle, Maddy Wilson turned in seven strong innings – allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. CSU Pueblo did start its eighth-inning rally against her though, and she was on the hook for the loss before the Roadrunners rallied in the bottom half.
"I thought Maddy did a really good job after the first inning of attacking the zone and getting outs," Van Wetzinga said.
Cheyenne Prieto (7-4) picked up the victory.
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