GOLDEN, Colo. - Behind defense and timely hitting the Colorado School of Mines softball team finished the weekend off with two more wins against Black Hills State winning 2-0 in game one and holding off a late rally to take game two by a score of 7-6.
Game one was back and forth between Kelly Unkrich and Black Hills State pitcher Katie Wagner. The Yellow Jackets threatened in the third with back-to-back singles and a stolen base that put runners on the corners. A failed double steal got the lead runner and Unkrich worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop up.
Mines got singles from Kamee Vessey and Molly Thiebaut in the fourth and both found their way into scoring position with stolen bases with just one out. Cassie Ford lined a hard shot up the middle but Wagner snagged it and doubled off Thiebaut at second to end the inning.
Again the Orediggers put a pair of runners on to start the sixth as Sami Springer singled and Vessey bunted for a hit. This time Ford drilled a shot to dead center for a double scoring two runs.
Unkrich tossed seven shutout innings scattering seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Vessey finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Ford was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk.
In game two, Black Hills State got on the board first scoring two runs in the second inning but Mines answered getting one back in the bottom half of the inning when Ford singled through the left side.
The Orediggers took the lead in the third scoring three runs to make it 4-2 doing so with two outs. Three straight hits off the bats of Molly Thiebaut, Ford and Paige Coufal led to runs as Ford doubled and Coufal hit a triple.
Mines extended its lead further in the fourth with two more runs off the bat of Sarah Lustgraaf to make it 6-2 but the Yellow Jackets answered with two runs in the fifth to pull within a pair scoring on a bases loaded walk and a fielder's choice.
Springer hit a solo home run in the sixth to make it 7-4. Black Hills State pulled within a single run in the seventh courtesy of a two-run home run by Allie Alverson with two outs. Unkrich came in to face the final batter getting her to ground out to second to end the game and earn the save.
Ashley Goletz improved to 7-7 on the season with the win while Unkrich picked up her first save of 2012. Springer (RBI, two runs scored) and Lustgraaf (two RBI) were both 3-for-4 while Ford was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Thiebaut was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Orediggers (15-18, 12-10 RMAC) will at Metro State next weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31 at 12:00 pm.
