Box Score How It Happened
The Colorado School of Mines (1-3) was unable to slowdown a hot swinging Fort Hays State (5-3) as they fell by the final of 10-3 in the season opener at Jim Darden Field.
FHSU got 10 runs off 19 hits and their starting pitcher D.J. Carr went the distance in the victory.
The Orediggers did not get off to an ideal start as Fort Hays State put four up on the scoreboard in the top of the first.
The Tigers started out by loading the bases, but Mines was able to quickly to put two away with a 'tailor-made' 4-6-3 double play that only scored a run. Unfortunately, an RBI single by Connor Ross followed by a two-run homer from Alex Weiss allowed FHSU to put four up in the frame.
Normally an explosive offense, Mines didn't find their groove until the bottom of the fourth inning. It was then when senior Nate Olinger followed junior Josh Martinez with a double down the right field line for Mines' first run of the game.
After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the fifth, the Orediggers came back with a two-spot in the bottom half of the frame. Both runs came on two outs as senior Jack Bevan and junior Logan Smith got back-to-back RBI base hits to narrow the FHSU advantage to 4-3.
The momentum was short lived though as Fort Hays got both runs back in the top of the sixth due in part to a CSM error.
Unfortunately, things wouldn't get better for Mines as Fort Hays State added a lone run in the top of the eighth followed by three in the ninth to put the game away.
Notables
- While it was an outing that Mines would soon like to forget they still pounded out nine hits on the afternoon.
- Leading those nine hits was Nate Olinger who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Eight of the nine regular starters for the Orediggers recorded at least one hit.
- Jack Bevan had Mines' only other RBI.
- Freshman catcher Mikey Gangwish threw out two would-be base stealers – both in the second inning.
- Impressively, all three of the Orediggers starting outfielders recorded an assist.
- Mines also turned two double plays on the afternoon.
Up Next
Mines will look to get rolling tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. as they play Fort Hays State in a doubleheader.
