2017 RMAC Softball Tournament, hosted by Colorado Mesa [Bracket] [Tournament Central]
[2] Mines vs. [7] Adams State, Thursday, 10:45 a.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats] 
 

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THE TOURNAMENT
This weekend's RMAC Tournament is an eight-team, double-elimination format with all games being played at regular-season champion Colorado Mesa. Second-seeded Mines will meet seventh-seeded Adams State in their opener at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday; should Mines win they would play the winner of MSU-Denver and Colorado Christian Friday at 8:30 a.m., or a loss would mean facing that game's loser at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Every game will be streamed live on the RMAC Network. 

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Mines clinched the #2 seed for the tournament after being picked eighth in preseason by the RMAC coaches. After going 20-24 last year, Mines is 29-13 entering this weekend; their work was rewarded Monday night as softball was named Mines' Most Improved Team of 2016-17 at the Blaster Awards.

MINES IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
Mines is making its second consecutive RMAC Tournament appearance as they seek their first title since 2013. As the fifth seed a year ago, Mines upset Regis 2-0 in the first round behind a Hallie Smith shutout before falling to Colorado Mesa 15-5 and being eliminated by CSU-Pueblo 4-3.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines lost its final regular-season series against Colorado Christian due to snow. Mines ended the regular season 29-13 overall and 26-10 in RMAC play after sweeping MSU Denver (this weekend's #3 seed) on April 22-23. One more win would give Mines its fourth 30-win season in program history and first since 2013, when they were a program-best 40-7-1.

IN THE RANKINGS
Mines opened up at #10 in the first NCAA South Central Regional Rankings, released last week. Colorado Mesa (#4) was the only other RMAC school ranked.

CARDIAC KIDS
Mines is currently riding one of the most unlikely streaks you'll ever see in softball: they've won three straight games via walk-off hits. The Orediggers beat MSU Denver in their final at-bat three times in their last series, including twice in extras; Clara Larson's eighth-inning home run won game two of their series, 3-2, and Katie Leiker's hit won it in the ninth of game three, 3-2. In the series finale, Mines erased a 7-0 deficit to win with Kara Jones' two-out, two-run double in the seventh, 9-8. Mines has won nine times this season in their final at-bat, including six walk-offs.

GETTIN' DUBS
Speaking of Kara Jones, her final game of the MSU Denver series made history. The sophomore catcher doubled three times, tying the Mines record for doubles in a game as the fourth player overall to do it. She was 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI in that game.

MASHIN' TATERS
Clara Larson hit her 10th home run of the season last year, which is now the second-most by a freshman in program history. The shortstop is slugging .639 this season with 21 extra-base hits, and she's tied for sixth in single-season home runs at Mines.

FUJINAGA NEARS 100 HITS
Junior Pua Fujinaga has a chance to be the newest member of Mines' 100 hits club this weekend. The junior third baseman enters RMAC Tournament with 99 career hits, and is on pace for a career season hitting .271, the best in her three years.

DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
One of the biggest factors in Mines' improvement from 2016 has been its defense. Last year, the Orediggers ranked eighth in the RMAC with a .944 fielding percentage and allowed 76 stolen bases; this year, Mines' fielding percentage is .962, ranking fifth, and they have allowed only 50 stolen bases. Mines is on pace to commit 20 fewer errors in 2017 than in 2016. The biggest key: the Mines infield. Second baseman Katie Leiker (.918 to .946), third baseman Pua Fujinaga (.921 to .963), and first baseman Boston Ludlow (.979 to .989) have all jumped their percentages, and the Mines pitching staff has committed only three errors this year to six last season.

TURNING TWO
Another shining spot for the Mines defense? Double plays. Mines enters the weekend second in the nation in double plays, turning two 24 times this season, including six times from the outfield (four by Paige Noehring alone).