SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team closed opening weekend Sunday with a series split as the Orediggers earned a 15-12 victory over Angelo State in a slugfest finale at Foster Field.
 
Derek Daly continued to shine on offense with his fourth home run of the season. He finished the game with two runs on two hits and four RBI. Trevor Kehe was also stellar for the Orediggers, going 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI on two doubles. Jace Selsor scored three times on a two-hit day and Mikey Gangwish hit his second home run of the season. It was his only hit of the game but afforded the catcher three RBI and one run. Additionally, Daniel Ciraula came off the bench and went 2-for-2 with a double and one run scored.
 
On the mound, Gabe Garvens (2-0) earned his second win of the weekend in relief. The sophomore hurler tossed 3.1 innings of shutout relief while surrendering just five hits and striking out two. Drew Hill got the start for Mines but did not factor in the decision. The Orediggers used a total of five pitchers in the victory.
 
As a team, Mines (2-2) hit .384 in the game and .339 on the weekend. The Orediggers hit six doubles in Sunday's finale, bringing their season total to 10 through four games fueling 33 runs of offense. Rams' pitcher Austin Thomason (0-1) took the loss for Angelo State (2-2) after surrendering five runs on five hits in just 2.2 innings of work. Mines now has 10 home runs on the season and 20 hits for extra bases for a team slugging percentage of .654.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines opened the game proving that it's not just a power-hitting squad. In the opening frame, Kehe drew a leadoff walk followed by singles from Selsor and Daly to make it 1-0. Phil VanZale added a single of his own to give the Orediggers a 2-0 advantage. Joe Popp followed that up with a walk and Mason Peterson made it back-to-back free passes with a RBI walk of his own before Angelo State could stop the bleeding.
 
Hill showed a little case of the nerves in his debut as a starter, hitting the Rams' leadoff batter. However, the sophomore immediately settled into the comfort of a 3-0 lead by flashing his velocity and wreaking havoc with his curveball to retire the next three hitters.
 
The Orediggers hooked back into the power plant in the top of the second inning. It was Kehe leading off the inning yet again, this time with a single. Then, Daly struck with a tank to left field to grow the lead to 5-0. VanZale added a double to the Orediggers' slugging percentage before the Rams' freshman pitcher managed the final out of the frame.
 
Angelo State's first batter of the second inning managed the Rams' first ball out of the infield – a fly-out to left field. Hill used the same equation on the next batter with a fly ball to center field before ASU recorded its first hit of the game, doubling down the leftfield line. The Rams made it back-to-back hits, but Hill remained unfazed as he forced the final out on a dribbling comebacker to the mound.
 
Unfortunately for the Orediggers, ASU finally found its rhythm at the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Rams strung together a double, a triple and a pair of two-run home runs in a five-run frame. Hill bowed out and true freshman Nash Neff came in from the bullpen and recorded the final out of the inning by way of strikeout, preserving a 6-5 lead for Mines.
 
There was no delay in the Orediggers' response as they answered back the very next inning. Mines started quietly in the top of the fifth with Peterson wearing a pitch followed by a sacrifice from Garvens and a RBI-single for Kehe. A stolen base and free pass to Selsor set the plate for Gangwish who did not disappoint. With two runners on and two outs, Gangwish bided his time then took a two-strike pitch all the way out of the park to center field for a 10-5 Mines advantage.
 
Crooked numbers continued to light up the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Angelo State put on its manufacturing hat and proceeded to rack up four runs on two hits with two walks in the mix as well. The inning also featured another Oredigger debut as Colin Morris came out of the bullpen in relief of Neff. The redshirt junior walk-on closed out the inning while keeping Mines ahead, 10-9. Unfortunately for the visitors, ASU continued scoring in the sixth, taking the lead for the first time behind three more runs.
 
The top of the seventh inning showed the game was far from over. Garvens, who had taken over in relief on the mound, walked straight to the plate and put the ball in play for a single to the shortstop. Kehe took note and also put the ball in play, resulting in a double to left field and error by the shortstop to pull Mines within one run. Selsor eliminated the deficit with a sacrifice-fly to right field that brought Kehe in to score.
 
Garvens went back out to the mound in the bottom of the seventh and put up the Orediggers' first defensive zero since the third inning. The sophomore worked a fielder's choice after a leadoff single and Gangwish contributed to the cause by gunning down a potential stolen base at second. His play was upheld following an official review. Another Rams' single was of no consequence as Garvens got the very next batter to fly out to Kehe in center.
 
Ciraula grabbed the momentum from a shutout inning and started the eighth frame with a single. Trevor Howard advanced him with a sacrifice bunt and Peterson gave Mines the lead with a two-out, RBI double. Kehe added to the lead with another two-out, RBI double to make it 15-12 in favor of the Orediggers. Garvens made it back-to-back shutout innings in the bottom half as he closed it out with strikeout.
 
Mines went quietly in the top of the final frame, but it wouldn't matter. Garvens returned to the mound yet again with the chance to close it out, and the Texan left no doubt. Gangwish gloved a pop-up from the Rams' leadoff hitter. Garvens struck out the second batter and then worked a ground-ball out to clinch the victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 5-3 in its last eight meetings with Angelo State, dating back to 2016.
- Selsor leads the Orediggers in hitting, batting .500 through four games with six runs.
- Daly finished the weekend slugging 1.267 with four home runs, six runs scored and nine RBI.
- Daly is now tied for eighth on Mines' all-time home run list with 18 in his career.
- Nine different Orediggers collected at least one hit in Sunday's finale.
- Mines had five individuals with multiple hits in the game-four victory over Angelo State.
- Four different pitchers made their Oredigger debut on opening weekend, including Ian Durgin, Colin Morris, Nate Giefer and Nash Neff.
- Garvens is now 5-0 in his pitching career and leads Mines with six strikeouts this season.
- Joe Popp appeared in the 100th game of his career as an Oredigger in Sunday's finale.
- Robby Bales is 2-2 in his first season as head coach of the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines plays its 2019 home opener Saturday with a doubleheader against MSU Billings 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.