Mines at Black Hills State, Sunday, 4:30 p.m./6:30 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
Mines at Black Hills State, Monday, 12 p.m./2 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
at MSU Denver's Regency Athletic Complex
 

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THIS WEEKEND
Colorado School of Mines will be "visiting" Black Hills State in their RMAC-opening series, but won't have to travel far to do it as the games have shifted to MSU Denver's Regency Athletic Complex. It will be the second straight weekend Mines has played at the stadium after defeating Montana State Billings there last Saturday. The BHSU series is now a Sunday-Monday configuration, starting with a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday (following MSU Denver vs. Chadron State) and a noon twinbill on Monday. MSU Denver's campus is pay-to-park; if using a campus lot, visit the MSU Denver web site for parking information. 

LAST WEEKEND
Mines picked up its first win of the season thanks to Megan Dickson's walk-off sacrifice fly to score Kendall Murphy, beating Montana State Billings 4-3 in eight innings last Saturday. The second game of their doubleheader was cancelled due to snow. Murphy had a hand in all four of Mines' runs, smacking a bases-loaded three-run double in the fifth and then scoring from third in the eighth. Katie Leiker went 2-for-3 and Kelsey Buechler was 2-for-4 in the game. Claire Stringfellow started and took no decision, leaving in the fourth after allowing one run on five hits. Marchando (1-3) picked up the win with five tough innings, working out of several jams and striking out two while giving up two hits.

A WHOLE NEW SEASON
After a frustrating 1-7 non-conference schedule, Mines has the chance to wipe the slate clean with the start of RMAC play this weekend. The Orediggers have gotten off to a quick start with three or more wins in their opening RMAC series in each of the past three years. In the RMAC poll, Mines was chosen sixth coming off three consecutive RMAC Tournament appearances. New RMAC member Dixie State was picked first just ahead of defending champion Colorado Mesa as the two split first-place votes; Colorado Christian, Regis, and MSU Denver rounded out the top five ahead of Mines.

LARSON SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Last week, junior shortstop Clara Larson was one of 50 players named to the watch list for the Schutt Sports/NFCA D-II National Player of the Year award, the first player in Mines history to make the list. As a sophomore, Larson earned NFCA First Team and D2CCA Second-Team All-America honors after hitting .425 and slugging .839 with 15 home runs, a program-record 64 RBI, 21 doubles, and 59 runs scored. The 2019 RMAC Preseason Player of the Year earned a bevy of postseason awards including Google Cloud/CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-America, First-Team All-RMAC, and NFCA and D2CCA First-Team All-South Central.

MINES NOTABLES
Katie Leiker leads Mines hitting .360 this season … Kendall Murphy has been a terrific lead-off addition for Mines, hitting .333 and slugging a team-high .407 with five RBI as a true freshman … Leiker is one hit away from 150 in her career while Boston Ludlow is two hits away from 100 ... Leiker is Mines' active hits leader ... Clara Larson is Mines' active leader in career RBI (109) and home runs (25) ... Larson is second all-time at Mines in homers, chasing Kaleigh Starr's record of 34 ... Kara Jones ranks ninth all-time at Mines in doubles with 38 … Jones made her season debut last weekend with a pinch-hit appearance vs. MSU Billings … Mines' win over MSU Billings was their second extra-innings game in eight outings this season.

LAST YEAR VS. BLACK HILLS STATE
Mines lost three of four against BHSU in a close series last year, with two of the Yellow Jacket wins coming by one run. They split the opening day 3-2 for BHSU and 8-3 for Mines as the Orediggers bashed 11 hits in game two led by Clara Larson and Katie Leiker; on the second day, the Yellow Jackets won 7-2 and 2-1.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will take on New Mexico Highlands on March 2-3 at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.