GOLDEN – NFCA No. 13 Colorado School of Mines strung together several key at-bats and twice worked out of bases-loaded jams on Friday as the top-seeded Orediggers defeated eighth-seeded Western New Mexico 2-1 in the first round of the RMAC Softball Championships in Golden.
With its 11 straight win over the Mustangs and 17th straight at home, Mines (37-5-1) advances to meet fifth-seeded Adams State (21-16) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 in Golden. The Grizzlies were a 9-7 winner versus CSU-Pueblo at Lakewood Park.
After getting outscored 19-to-5 in a four-game sweep to the Orediggers in February, the Mustangs came out swinging to start Friday's contest, sending seven batters to the plate in the first frame and touching up senior starter Kelly Unkrich for one run on three hits, before leaving the bases full.
Mines quickly evened the score with one run in the bottom of the inning. Senior Kamee Vessey reached on a one-out single to third and after swiping second, advanced on a single to left by junior Gianna Duncan. Junior Sami Springer ensued with an RBI-groundout to shortstop to plate Vessey.
The Orediggers pushed across the go-ahead run in the fourth as junior Courtney Derus backed consecutive base hits by sophomore Cassie Ford and junior Melissa Marshall and a sacrifice bunt by senior Molly Thiebaut with the eventual game-winner on an RBI-single to left field.
Following the slow start, Unkrich found her groove, yielding just two hits and retiring 15 of the next 18 batters over the subsequent five innings. WNMU provided a scare in the seventh, filling the bases with just one out, but could only muster a pop fly to second and fielder's choice to shortstop against Unkrich who improved to 23-1 with her 34rd straight complete game.
The conference's first three-time RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Unkrich allowed just the one earned run on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Vessey, Duncan and Marshall each totaled two hits in three at-bats, while Ford finished 1-for-3 and Derus went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Prior to the start of the game, senior Lauren Aberle was awarded the inaugural Summit Award and third-year head coach Kristie Hawkins was presented with the RMAC regular season trophy.
TOURNAMENT BRACKET | CHAMPIONSHIP HEADQUARTERS
Photos courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
