Mines at #14 Colorado Mesa, Friday, 6 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
Mines at #14 Colorado Mesa, Saturday, 1/4 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
Mines at #14 Colorado Mesa, Sunday, 12 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]

THE SERIES
This weekend's series will be a collision of the RMAC's top two teams as first-place Colorado Mesa (34-8/26-2 RMAC) hosts second-place Mines (24-17/16-12 RMAC). The two own the longest active win streaks in the RMAC; the Mavericks are on a 21-game win streak having not lost since March 20; Mines has won seven in a row including a series sweep of Colorado Christian last weekend.

THE PLAYOFF HUNT
With eight games left in the regular-season, only Colorado Mesa - who has won the regular-season title - has clinched a berth in the RMAC Tournament. Mines heads a crowded field behind them with the Orediggers, Regis, MSU Denver, UCCS, and CSU-Pueblo all within four games of .500 in league play. The top six teams in the regular-season standings make the field.

IN THE RANKINGS
Mines re-entered the NCBWA South Central regional poll tied for eighth this week after receiving votes last week. Mesa leaped two spots to #2, and are also ranked #14 in the national poll. Lubbock Christian continues to top the regional poll.

WINNING WAYS
Mines is hitting a gaudy .391 and slugging .634 as a team over their seven-game win streak, led by centerfielder Cody Marvel. Marvel is hitting .583 and slugging 1.000 with 14 runs scored, two home runs, four doubles, and eight RBI in that span. Connor Lambert is also on a tear with 12 RBI, seven walks, and seven extra-base hits, while Joe Popp has emerged slugging .917 with a couple of homers, two triples, and 10 runs scored.

TWICE AS NICE
After not throwing a shutout since 2015, Mines has now had clean sheets on back-to-back weekends. Tyler Blomster and Sam Slusser combined for one against Adams State two weeks ago, and Jake Ekstrom tossed a complete-game, nine-inning shutout at CCU last weekend. Over their last two starts, Blomster and Ekstrom are a combined 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA.

OUTSTANDING IN OUR FIELD 
Mines enters the weekend as the RMAC's best defensive team, ranked 12th in NCAA Division II with a .973 fielding percentage. The Orediggers have committed a conference-low 38 errors in 1,382 total chances this season. Two Orediggers with 50+ chances - catcher Griffin Jones and centerfielder Cody Marvel - have perfect 1.000 percentages this year, while catcher Mikey Gangwish (.989) and first baseman Jace Selsor (.989) have been nearly perfect this year.