DENVER - Kendall Murphy's walk-off double in game one helped Colorado School of Mines salvage a doubleheader split with #12 Colorado Mesa on Saturday.

The Orediggers (6-9, 5-2 RMAC) prevailed 5-4 in the comeback to start the day, but fell to the Mavericks (14-5, 7-2) by an 8-3 score in the afternoon despite generating 10 hits.

Murphy collected three hits with three RBI in the two games, while Stefanie Brunello drove in two in game one and Megan Dickson had a three-hit day. The games were played at MSU Denver's Regency Athletic Complex.

GAME ONE - Mines 5, Colorado Mesa 4
A seventh-inning comeback capped by Kendall Murphy's bases-loaded double handed Mines a 5-4 win to start the day, overcoming three Maverick home runs in the game.

Colorado Mesa did all of their scoring with the long ball, taking advantage of a very windy day blowing straight out to generate runs on solo shots from AnnMarie Torres and Brooke Doumer and a two-run blast from Kellie Mrofcza. Mines had seven hits including doubles from Murphy and Megan Dickson.

Torres' homer got CMU on the board in the first, but Mines answered to take the lead with a three-run second as Stefanie Brunello blooped in two runs before a Kelsey Buechler single up the middle scored Brunello to lead 3-1.

The Mavericks tied it up in the third on Mrofcza's two-run shot to the scoreboard in center, and then took the lead in the fifth on Doumer's solo shot to left to go up 4-3. Mines left a potential tying run on second in the sixth after Clara Larson's lead-off walk, but rallied in the bottom of the seventh to win it. Boston Ludlow was hit by a pitch to lead off before Brunello singled and Buechler reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. That set up Murphy, who drove a ball to the gap in right-center to walk off with the victory.

Sydney Marchando started the game and took no decision in allowing all four runs over four innings. Claire Stringfellow (2-3) picked up the win with a superb relief effort, scattering one hit over three innings against 11 batters. Kimbri Herring (6-3) was hooked for the loss allowing all five runs with five strikeouts.

GAME 2 - Colorado Mesa 8, Mines 3
A big second inning by Colorado Mesa keyed their 8-3 win in the afternoon game.

The Mavericks jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the game thanks to a five-run second inning and never looked back despite an Oredigger team that hung tough with 10 hits and some runs in the late innings.

A lead-off triple by Brooke Doumer produced a run in the first on AnnMarie Torres' RBI single, but the game came apart in the second for Mines as CMU scored five runs - all unearned and all with two outs - to blow open the score. Haley Hinson's two-run triple started the rally and Doumer added a scoring single before Torres' two-run single to center made it 6-0.

Megan Dickson and Boston Ludlow produced doubles in the bottom of the second to get a run back, but two more CMU hits in the fourth extended the lead to 8-1. Kendall Murphy drove in Dani Valerio and Clara Larson doubled home Murphy in the fifth to end up 8-3.

McKenzie Surface (5-0) earned the win as Shea Mauser picked up the save with three effective innings of relief. Mines combined three pitchers with Claire Stringfellow (2-4) taking the loss in 3.1 innings of work; only one of her six runs allowed was earned. Maddie Rogers was outstanding in 3.1 innings of relief, facing two over the minimum and allowing only one hit in a dozen batters faced.

NEXT UP
The two teams will wrap up their series Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at MSU Denver.