CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State softball fell 7-2 and 12-3 to MSU Denver in the first two games of a four-game series Saturday, with the Roadrunners using big late innings to turn tight contests into deceptively large final margins. 

The Eagles (9-15, 5-13 RMAC) trailed the Roadrunners (19-7, 14-3 RMAC) just 4-2 after five innings in both games, but MSU Denver outscored Chadron State 11-1 in the sixth and seventh combined across the doubleheader. 

Brogan Allen hit her third home run in her past five games to lead Chadron State offensively, while J'lyssa Martinez and Lauren Zimmerman also had an RBI each, with Zimmerman tallying three hits on the day. 

Tori Haug and Kenzi Garner each took losses in the circle, with freshman relievers Belle Akins and Destrie Greiman each pitching 1.1 innings out of the bullpen and giving up four runs. The Eagles struggled defensively in game one, committing four errors, but recovered to play errorless in game two. 

The Roadrunners took an early lead off Haug in game one, with two walks and a single loading the bases with two outs before Brookyln Enny cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line. 

Haug settled down after that, giving up only an unearned run over the next four innings. The Eagles scored two unearned runs of their own when a two-out fielding error allowed Sydney Loyet and Elizabeth Thorngren to score from second and third, respectively. Loyet went 2-for-3 and joined Zimmerman as the only Eagles with multiple hits in game one. 

After two singles and an error loaded the bases for MSU Denver in the sixth, Haug struck out Alexia Boring for the second out of the inning. But Jenna Geist came through with a two-run single to make it 6-2 Roadrunners, adding two more unearned runs on Haug's ledger. That was plenty of support for MSU Denver pitcher Natalie Romero, who scattered six hits with three strikeouts over a seven-inning effort. Romero did not allow an earned run.

Jenna Medhus was the star of game two for MSU Denver. The junior pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts while not walking a batter, and provided enough offensive firepower on her own to win the game with two home runs and four RBI. The Roadrunners hit four home runs in game two. 

The Eagles scored their runs on RBI singles from Lauren Zimmerman in the third and J'lyssa Martinez in the fifth before a pinch-hit solo home run from Allen in the seventh. Allen's three home runs, all of which have come in the last seven days, have the redshirt sophomore third on the team behind Zimmerman (seven) and Ashland Baca (five). 

Chadron State and MSU Denver will resume their four-game series tomorrow from the CSC softball field. First pitch for game one is set for 11 a.m.