John_Howard_NMHU_2018
10
N.M. Highlands NMHU 5-11, 1-3 RMAC
20
Winner Colo. Sch. of Mines CSBB 7-4, 3-1 RMAC
N.M. Highlands NMHU
5-11, 1-3 RMAC
10
Final
20
Colo. Sch. of Mines CSBB
7-4, 3-1 RMAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
N.M. Highlands NMHU 0 0 2 4 0 3 0 1 0 10 8 7
Colo. Sch. of Mines CSBB 0 3 7 1 5 4 0 0 X 20 16 2

W: Ekstrom, Jake (1-1) L: Kaleb Whitlock (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Sam Boender

Mines Takes 20-10 Win in Series-Finale Slugfest Against NMHU

GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team won its first series of the season Sunday with a 20-10 win over New Mexico Highlands in the series finale at Jim Darden Field.
 
The Orediggers slugged their way to victory with nine extra-base hits including three home runs. John Howard was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles, scoring two runs with six RBI. Joe Popp also had four hits as he smacked his second home run of the season and added a double while scoring four and driving in three. Walter Pennington and Mikey Gangwish also went long in the win, combining for five runs and three RBI.
 
Jake Ekstrom (1-1) got his first win of the season with 5.0 innings of work as he surrendered nine runs on six hits and three walks. Tyler Blomster was brilliant in his 2018 debut as he came in out of the bullpen and tossed 3.0 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball while striking out four. New Mexico Highlands' Kaleb Whitlock (1-2) suffered the loss.
 
No lead was safe Sunday despite 10-run and 11-run advantages for the Orediggers (7-4, 3-1 RMAC). A scoreless first inning led to three Mines' runs in the bottom of the second inning, sparked by Gangwish's leadoff home run. Highlands (5-11, 1-3 RMAC) responded with two runs in the top of the third to cut the Orediggers' lead to one.
 
The bottom of the third inning proved unorthodox as Mines plated seven runs aided by two errors, three balks and two player ejections. However, NMHU cut into the lead again with four runs in the top of the fourth.
 
Not to be outdone, Mines answered back with one run in the fourth, five in the fifth and four in the sixth. Blomster came in out of the bullpen and shut the Cowboys down through sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Slusser pitched a one-hit shutout ninth to clinch the win.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 9-3 in its last 12 games against the Cowboys.
- The Orediggers and Cowboys combined to hit 10 home runs on the weekend.
- In two games, Howard hit .833, scored five runs and drove in six while slugging 1.333.
- Pennington finished the weekend batting .444 and slugging 1.556 while scoring seven runs and driving in five.
- Mines' 20 runs are the second-most in a single game since 2012. The most runs scored are 23 April 6, 2013 against Adams State.
- Sunday marked the second time this season the Orediggers have hit three home runs in one game. Mines also hit three against St. Edward's Feb. 18.
- The Orediggers drew 10 walks Sunday against NMHU, tied for third-most since 2012.
- As a team, Mines is hitting .324 on the year, scoring 93 runs on 121 hits.
- Pennington, Kehe and Gangwish all lead the team with four home runs this season.
- Gangwish and Kehe have reached base safely in every game this season, an 11-game reached-base streak for both.
- Joe Popp, Jace Selsor and Kehe all have hitting streaks of 10 games, nine games and eight games, respectively.
- Mines is tied for first in the RMAC standings with a record of 3-1 in conference play.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host CSU-Pueblo March 9-11 in a four-game series at Jim Darden Field. Live stats and video will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
 
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