Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Brielle Asato's walk-off secured game one before a big fourth inning keyed a win in game two as Colorado School of Mines swept Fort Hays State on Wednesday.

The Orediggers (9-14) won a pitcher's duel 1-0 to start the day behind a sparkling three-hit shutout from Hallie Smith, then came back from a 4-1 deficit to win 5-4 thanks to a four-run fourth inning. Mines was playing its final non-conference opponent of the season.

GAME 1 – Mines 1, Fort Hays State 0
Asato's walk-off infield hit ensured Smith's gem wouldn't be wasted as Mines won for the second straight game in their final at-bat.

Smith (6-6) and Paxton Duran (6-9) dueled all game long as the two teams went into the seventh inning scoreless. It wasn't for a lack of offense on Mines' part as the Orediggers stranded eight, including runners on third in three different innings. Mines had a chance to break the game open in the fourth, but Duran worked out of a bases-loaded jam; Kara Walling was thrown out at the plate in the fifth and Paige Noehring was stranded on third to end the inning.

Fort Hays also had their chances, leading runners on second in fourth innings, but Smith never allowed a runner past that, striking out seven and at one point retiring 10 straight.

Mines won it in the seventh taking advantage of a defensive miscue as Duran dropped an infield popup by Loren Dempsey that should have been the first out. Dani Valerio pinch ran and was advanced on Amanda Etcheverry's sacrifice and Noehring's groundout. That brought up Asato, who legged out an infield single to shortstop to win it.

Smith scattered three hits in facing six over the minimum, striking out seven. Duran was the hard-luck loser, striking out three and not allowing an earned run for FHSU.

GAME 2 – Mines 5, Fort Hays State 4
A big fourth inning secured the sweep for Mines in game two as they rallied back to win 5-4.

Maddie Rogers picked up the win, getting out of a no-outs, bases-loaded jam in the third to keep Mines close, and Smith earned the 2.1 inning save in relief.

Fort Hays went ahead on Courtney Dobson's RBI single in the first, but Noehring's lead-off double in the bottom half set up Boston Ludlow's double to the right field wall to tie it up.

The visitors went back ahead in the second thanks to Mackenzie Villarreal's sacrifice fly, then played two in the third. After stringing together four straight hits, including Kylie Strand's RBI single up the middle, Madeline LaPolla drew the bases-loaded walk and the Tigers seemed to be on the verge of something big. But Rogers worked out of trouble by throwing out Chermayne Yago at the plate on the force, followed by Katie Leiker's force at home of Strand before Rogers made a nice snag to end the inning with a throw to first.

That helped Mines keep it close, and the offense paid Rogers back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Noehring singled in Dempsey, and Etcheverry appeared to be caught in a rundown between third and home before catcher Erin Elmore threw it away to allow her to score. Asato grounded out to score Valerio, and Ludlow smacked her second RBI double of the game to bring in Noehring for the lead.

Fort Hays threatened in the fifth but Smith came on in relief and shut the door the rest of the way, allowing two singles over the final 2.1 innings to earn the save. Carrie Clarke (3-7) took the loss, allowing five earned and walking four with four strikeouts.

NEXT UP
Mines heads to Durango for an RMAC pod with Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands on Saturday and Sunday.