DENVER – The #23-ranked Colorado School of Mines Baseball team scratched out a 5-4 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader against Regis at Regis Baseball Field, but dropped game two by a score of 3-1.
 
Hits were few and far between for both teams, but Joe Popp scratched out two for the Orediggers and also tallied two RBI. Derek Daly joined Popp with two RBI in the doubleheader. Trevor Kehe led Mines in runs scored, coming across the plate twice on the day. Noah Kuzma, Jace Selsor and Mikey Gangwish recorded hits for the Orediggers as well.
 
Walter Pennington (4-1) was Mines' game-one starter and earned his fourth win of the season. The junior lefty tossed 6.1 innings and surrendered just four runs on eight hits with one strikeout and one walk. Ian Durgin also appeared in game one, working the final two outs in relief on his way to the save. Drew Hill (2-2) pitched from start to finish in game two and suffered the loss despite nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.
 
The Orediggers (15-7, 6-5 RMAC) only needed three hits and overcame four errors in their game-one victory. However, Regis (7-17, 2-9 RMAC) held its opposition to a combined batting average of .146 on the day and racked up 15 strikeouts in 14 innings. Mines enters Sunday's finale seeking its third series win of 2019, while the Rangers look to avoid their fifth series loss of the year.
 
Game One – Mines 5, Regis 4
It was a game of two innings for the Orediggers. Mines struck first in the opening frame with two runs thanks to Regis miscues in the field. As the first batter of the game, Kehe reached base on a throwing error by the Rangers shortstop. He would come in to score on a failed pickoff attempt which resulted in another RU error, credited to the pitcher. Selsor reached base on a single and made it 2-0 thanks to Daly's ground-ball RBI.
 
The Orediggers struck again in the third inning with three runs on two hits. Kehe led off again, and reached base on four straight balls. He proceeded to steal second base and Gangwish kept it rolling with a four-pitch walk of his own. Back-to-back singles from Daly and Popp brought home Kehe, Daly and Gangwish for a 5-1 advantage.
 
Meanwhile, Regis spread its scoring out over three innings. The Rangers got on the board with a leadoff home run in the second inning. The Rangers used another home run in the sixth frame to cut Mines' lead to 5-3. The home team added another run in the final stanza and nearly tied the game. However, a single to center field ended up in the hands of John Howard. The redshirt senior gunned it to Daniel Ciraula at second who relayed it to Gangwish at home, sealing the victory with the final out of the game.
 
Game Two – Regis 3, Mines 1
The second game of the day was an all-out pitchers' duel. Only two runners reached base through the first three frames, both Orediggers. On defense for Mines, Hill retired 11 consecutive Rangers' batters behind seven strikeouts. An Oredigger error put the first Regis runner on base in the fourth inning, but it was erased with batter's interference on a stolen base attempt.
 
Mines broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth inning thanks to singles from Kuzma and Kehe. Another stolen base for Kehe put runners on second and third. Then, a passed ball by the Rangers opened the gate for Kuzma and a 1-0 lead for the Orediggers.
 
Hill's no-hit bid continued into the bottom of the fifth inning as the sophomore righty struck out the leadoff hitter on three pitches. However, the next batter ended the run at history with a solo home run to left field. Another RU hit in the sixth frame set up a two-run home run for the home team to make it 3-1. Mines could not find a response in its final at-bats, and Regis would salvage the split.
 
NOTABLES
- Since 2015, Mines is 12-4 in the ongoing series against Regis.
- Pennington's victory marks the 15th of his career. He's now 15-6 and tied for #6 on Mines' all-time wins list.
- Kehe is batting .400 on the weekend with six runs scored in three games.
- Kehe now leads the team with 30 runs and 12 stolen bases in 2019.
- Mines is outscoring Regis 16-8 on the weekend.
- Popp currently boasts an eight-game hitting streak.
- Gangwish has reached base safely in 12 straight games. Mason Peterson has done the same in 10 straight games.
- Head coach Robby Bales is 15-7 in his first season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines and Regis play their series finale Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Regis Baseball Field. Live stats and videos 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.