Dixie State Easton Classic [Tournament Central]
Mines vs. Northwest Nazarene, Friday, 3 p.m. [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Western Washington, Saturday, 12:30 p.m. [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Concordia-Irvine, Saturday, 3 p.m. [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Dominican (Calif.), Sunday, 10 a.m. [Live Stats]
Mines at Dixie State, Sunday, 12:30 p.m. [Live Stats]
 

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THE WEEKEND
The Orediggers head to future RMAC opponent Dixie State in Utah for this weekend's five-game Easton Classic. The Orediggers will play Friday and Saturday's games at the Canyons Complex in St. George, and Sunday's games at DSU's Karl Brooks Field. Live stats are available for each game.

PRESEASON POLL
Mines was chosen second in the RMAC preseason coaches' poll, announced on Monday. 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) round out the top five.

LAST WEEKEND
Mines pounded 34 runs and 42 hits across five games but came home with a 2-3 record from the Lubbock Christian Classic last weekend. Mines did score wins over UT-Permian Basin (10-8) and a five-inning, 11-0 decision against Midwestern State. Their three losses were close, falling to Emporia State 8-5, Lubbock Christian 9-7, and Midwestern State 2-1.

KEEPING IT 100
Pua Fujinaga had a great opening weekend that enabled her to cross 100 career hits in the season opener against UTPB. Fujinaga now has 105 in her four years and is the second active Oredigger to cross 100 hits, joining Sonoma Toot (135). Katie Leiker could be up next as the junior is sitting on 96 career hits, with Boston Ludlow at 85.

MASHIN' TATERS
Mines' bats needed no time getting warmed up in 2018 as they hit seven home runs on opening weekend, including two each by Pua Fujinaga and Clara Larson. Katie Leiker and Boston Ludlow also had jacks and freshman Megan Dickson went yard for the first time in her career. Mines slugged .486 as a team across the five games.

LARSON LEADS THE WAY
Sophomore Clara Larson was the hottest Oredigger bat on opening weekend, slashing .375/.444/.875 with some exceptional power numbers. The shortstop had a hit in all five games and compiled two doubles and two homers with nine RBI and five runs scored, both team bests.

IN THE CIRCLE
Mines had some solid outings from its pitching staff to start the year as Maddie Rogers tossed a five-inning shutout to come back with a 0.00 ERA, and freshman Kylie Redding did not allow an earned run over four innings of relief work. Claire Stringfellow was unlucky to take two losses as she had a 2.42 ERA in 8.2 innings of work, while Hallie Smith went 1-1 with seven strikeouts in two starts and Sydney Marchando held UTPB in two innings of work to make her collegiate debut.

ON A STREAK
Sonoma Toot saw a 15-game hitting streak end last weekend, which will stand as the sixth-longest in program history. Toot still has an 18-game reached-base streak alive heading into this weekend, while Clara Larson's five-game hitting streak is now Mines' longest active run.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will play its home opener on Feb. 18 with a twinbill against Montana-State Billings at 11 a.m.