GAME 1 - MSU Denver 5, Mines 1
MSU Denver used two big innings to take the series opener, 5-1, behind a strong pitching performance against Colorado School of Mines.
The Roadrunners' Darby McGhee (14-8) carried a no-hitter into the fifth as Mines managed only three hits in the game. Scoreless entering the third, the home side broke through on Ashlee Kim's RBI triple before Koryna Wright's two-run home run made it 3-0. The Roadrunners tacked on two more in the fifth thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Wright and Alyssa Richter to lead 5-0.
Mines tried to mount a comeback as
Pua Fujinaga broke up the no-hit bid in the fifth, and finally got on the board in the sixth as
Dani Valerio led off with a single and was drive in by
Clara Larson's double. That would be all for the Orediggers, however, as McGhee threw an efficient 94-pitch, four-strikeout complete game.
Hallie Smith (9-9) exited in the third allowing three runs.
Maddie Rogers calmed the game down throwing the final four, allowing two runs with a strikeout.
GAME 2 - Mines 4, MSU Denver 3 (9 inn.)
Mines outlasted MSU Denver 4-3 in extras in a fantastic pitcher's duel to cap Sunday, clinching a spot in the RMAC Tournament in the process.
Scoreless entering the seventh, both teams scored three runs in their final at-bat of regulation, but it was
Clara Larson's RBI triple in the top of the ninth that gave the visitors the edge and the win.
Claire Stringfellow (12-5) battled to the win allowing two earned and striking out two, including the final out of the ninth.
Pua Fujinaga and Larson each had two-hit games.
The win, combined with results around the league on Sunday, earned Mines its third straight trip to the RMAC Tournament, which begins May 3 at either Colorado Mesa or Colorado Christian.
It was an entertaining match-up in the circle between Stringfellow and Kylee Burnside as the pair both took shutouts into the seventh. Mines wasn't without its chances, stranding eight runners over the first six innings, but their breakthrough came in the seventh as
Kelsey Buechler made a pinch-hit appearance and reached on an error, then scored on
Sonoma Toot's single.
Pua Fujinaga drove in two runs with a single later in the inning, plating Larson and Toot, and Mines took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
The Roadrunners wouldn't quit, and back-to-back doubles followed by an error made it a 3-2 game before Alyssa Richter's sacrifice fly tied it up. Mines escaped the inning to force extras, and after both teams went down in order in the eighth, Mines wouldn't be denied in the ninth.
Dani Valerio led off with a single, and was brought across when Larson roped a triple to the gap in right center, giving Mines the 4-3 lead. In the bottom half, Wright doubled with two outs to put the winning run at the plate for the Roadrunners, but Stringfellow struck out Richter swinging to win it.
Darby McGhee (14-9), who entered in the seventh for Burnside, took the loss allowing the winning run. Burnside struck out five and walked five in 6.1 innings of work.
Larson's RBI triple marked her 60th RBI of the season, putting her one behind the season record of 61 set by Katie Kocman in 2009. Larson joins Kocman as the only other Oredigger to reach 60 RBI in a season.
NEXT UP
Mines and MSU Denver wrap up the series Monday with two games beginning at 4 p.m.
