Mines vs. MSU Denver, Friday, 12 p.m./2 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines vs. MSU Denver, Saturday, 11 a.m./1 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video] (NFCA StrikeOut Cancer Day)
 

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HOME SWEET HOME
At long last, Colorado School of Mines will open its new softball facility Friday when it hosts MSU Denver for the start of an Easter weekend RMAC series. Friday's doubleheader is set for a noon start with Saturday's at 11 a.m. The renovated facility, which includes new dugouts, restrooms, press box, infield, and scoreboard, as well as improved sightlines for fans, had its opening delayed by the exceptionally snowy winter across the Front Range. In appreciation for fans' patience throughout construction, admission is free for all games this weekend.

STRIKEOUT CANCER ON SATURDAY
Saturday's games will support the NFCA's StrikeOut Cancer initiative to raise money for Play4TheCure. This year's goal is $2,500; Mines Softball has led NCAA Division II in StrikeOutCancer fundraising in each of the last two seasons. Fans can make a donation online or at the game. 

LAST WEEKEND
Mines split with Colorado Christian, dropping both games on Sunday by scores of 7-6 (8 inn.) and 11-7, but bouncing back to run-rule CCU 10-2 on Monday and add an 8-5 win in the finale. Both offenses flashed their power as Mines hit .372 and slugged .558 for the series; Clara Larson had a monster weekend slashing .538/.647/1.231 with two home runs; Megan Dickson slugged .800 while Kara Jones drove in a team-high five runs. Both Sydney Marchando and Claire Stringfellow earned wins against the high-powered CCU lineup, which came in leading the RMAC in batting average at .355; they were held to .325 for the series.

OREDIGGERS CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH
The Orediggers clinched a berth in the RMAC Tournament with last weekend's results, and currently sit third in the conference at 21-8 (.724). Colorado Mesa is on top at 28-3 (.903) with Colorado Christian next at 22-6 (.786). Dixie State is just behind Mines at 23-9 (.719). MSU Denver (17-11, .607) and UCCS (18-13, .581) have also clinched playoff spots, with the rest of the conference still mathematically alive for the final two spots.

THE MATCH UP
This weekend's series will pit two teams jockeying for playoff position as Mines tries to stay in the top three and the Roadrunners try to improve on their fifth-place standing. Both teams rank among the top third of the RMAC in team hitting (MSU Denver third at .310, Mines fourth at .304) and team ERA (Mines third at 3.05, MSU Denver fifth at 3.59). The Roadrunners don't have any one offensive standout, but are consistent up and down the lineup with eight everyday players hitting .300 or better and six players with 18+ RBI. Darby McGhee (9-10) leads the pitching staff with a 2.65 ERA; Julia Heitz (7-5) comes in at 3.99.

LARSON CHASES HISTORY
With two home runs last week against CCU, junior Clara Larson has put the Mines career home run record within reach. She now sits at 32 in her three seasons, two behind Kaleigh Starr's record of 34 set between 2007 and 2010. Her 46 career doubles now rank fourth all-time, and her 149 RBI are third.

ON A ROLL
Rightfielder Kendall Murphy's remarkable reached-base streak continued last weekend as the rookie has reached in all 36 games she's played as an Oredigger. Murphy is batting .386 and slugging .598 out of the leadoff spot this year, and with 18 doubles, she could threaten the Mines single-season record of 23 before her freshman season is done. Murphy has also walked 13 times and driven in 27 RBI.

SUPER SUB
Senior Loren Dempsey has been money off the bench this season, hitting .400 in 11 games played. After missing the first part of the season due to injury, Dempsey has been a valuable pinch-hitter this season, making 11 plate appearances and driving in at least one run on five of those at-bats. This season, Dempsey is 4-for-10 with six RBI, a walk, and two sacrifice flies.

FLASHING THE LEATHER
A year after finishing eighth in the RMAC in team fielding percentage at .944, Mines is the league's most improved defensive team in 2019, currently second at .966. The Orediggers have committed just 36 errors in 1,061 chances.

LAST YEAR
MSU Denver took three of four from Mines in the regular season, then defeated the Orediggers in their RMAC Tournament opener as well. Three of those five games were decided by a single run - Mines' 4-3, nine-inning win, a 4-3 Roadrunner victory, and then their 5-4 win in the postseason.

MINES NOTABLES
When Mines plays on Friday, it will have been 354 days since they last played on their home field … Six of Mines' 15 losses this year have come to teams either ranked at the time or ranked currently in the NFCA Top 25 … Mines has assured itself of the 15th 20+ win season in program history … Mines has four active players with 100+ hits: Clara Larson (179), Katie Leiker (177), Kara Jones (158), and Boston Ludlow (124) … Both Larson (46, 4th) and Jones (44, T5th) rank in the Mines top-10 in career doubles … Jones made her first start of the season behind the plate in the finale vs. CCU, catching Claire Stringfellow … Stringfellow is now fourth all-time in career wins (36) at Mines … Sydney Marchando picked up her first career save in the series finale against CCU, striking out two in the seventh … Mines pitchers own the RMAC's #3 team ERA (3.05).