SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Five unanswered runs by #14 Tarleton State were the difference as Colorado School of Mines opened the St. Mary's Classic with a 5-3 loss to the Texans on Friday.

The Orediggers (0-6) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, but a three-run fourth and two-run fifth by the Texans (7-1) gave them the lead. It was the second straight week Mines played Tarleton State tough after a 3-1 loss at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational last weekend.

Mines had three hits in the game, by Kendall Murphy, Clara Larson, and Boston Ludlow, with Larson, Megan Dickson, and Hana Mawlawi driving in runs. Dickson got things going in the second with a sacrifice fly to score Ludlow, and Larson's single in the third scored Dani Valerio to lead 2-0. Mawlwai grounded to score Stefanie Brunello after her walk in the fourth to make it 3-0, but the Texans quickly answered with a three-run fourth to tie it 3-3. The rally was keyed by Georgia Capell's two-run single.

The decisive fifth inning saw an error allow Amanda Conner reach and Morgan Ling and Destiny Crumpley score on the play, making it a 5-3 game; Mines was held hitless over the final three innings by Rachel Williams and Jordan Withrow. 

Williams earned the win pitching 2.1 innings and striking out three, while Withrow picked up the save in the seventh. Sydney Marchando started and struck out five over four innings allowing three earned; Claire Stringfellow threw the final two innings allowing one run but no hits with two strikeouts.

Mines will face the hosts St. Mary's and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday with the twinbill starting at 4:45 p.m. Central.