Mines vs. Montana State Billings, Sunday, 11 a.m./1 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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THIS WEEKEND
The Orediggers make their 2018 home debut Sunday, hosting Montana State Billings (7-5) for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. It will mark the final non-conference play of the season for Mines (4-6), which began the season at tournaments at Lubbock Christian and Dixie State. Sunday's forecast calls for a beautiful Colorado February day with sunshine and highs in the mid-50s.

ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines game for the rest of the season can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".

LAST WEEKEND
Mines had some good performances but came away from the Dixie State Easton Classic with a 2-3 record. The Orediggers run-ruled Northwest Nazarene (10-2) and Dominican (8-0) but suffered losses to Western Washington and Concordia-Irvine. Mines showed a ton of heart in a 10-9, nine-inning loss to #9 Dixie State to end the trip, rallying back to tie the game and force extra innings but ultimately falling in the ninth. Clara Larson led the way slugging 1.267 with four homers and eight RBI for the weekend, while Sonoma Toot had a .526 OBP scoring four runs and Pua Fujinaga hit .355 with four RBI. Claire Stringfellow had a 0.72 ERA in three appearances to lead the pitching staff.

MASHING TATERS
Through 10 games, Mines has bashed 13 home runs, which is already more than halfway to the 2017 total of 20 and more than the 2016 team's 10. Leading the way is Clara Larson, who has an RMAC-best six, with Pua Fujinaga and Megan Dickson also hitting two each.

KEEPING IT 100
Katie Leiker became the latest member of the Mines 100-hit club last weekend, joining two other current Orediggers. Sonoma Toot is Mines' active leader with 141 hits, followed by Pua Fujinaga (116) and Leiker (101). Boston Ludlow could be up next, sitting on 89 career hits entering the weekend.

TOOT LEADS THEM OFF
One of Mines' biggest losses at the plate from 2017 was the graduation of all-RMAC leadoff hitter Paige Noehring. Senior Sonoma Toot has stepped into that role with ease in 2018, sporting a .500 OBP with 11 runs scored through 10 games. Toot has also walked five times and is hitting .394 out of the top spot.

HOME SWEET HOME
Mines has played very well in Golden over the past few years: since 2013, the Orediggers are 63-28 (.692) at home, including a 14-6 mark last year. Mines has earned at least a split of its home-opening doubleheader for the past six seasons going back to 2012.

MINES SECOND IN RMAC PRESEASON POLL
Mines was chosen to finish second in the RMAC preseason coaches' poll, the same spot they ended 2017. The Orediggers (32-15 in 2017) earned 103 points in the poll to sit second behind Colorado Mesa, which earned 121 points and 11 first-place votes. MSU Denver (102), Regis (90), and Chadron State (80) rounded out the top five.

COMING UP
Mines will start RMAC play next weekend at Fort Lewis on Saturday and Sunday. Note that the series will be played in Aztec, N.M. instead of Durango.