GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team suffered its first loss of the 2019 NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon, falling 6-3 against top-seeded host Colorado Mesa at Sam Suplizio Field.
 
The loss came despite Joe Popp's two-run home run on a 1-for-4 day at the plate. Popp's two RBI led the Orediggers and he scored one run as well. Gabe Garvens and Mikey Gangwish were Mines' top hitters for average. Both Orediggers went 2-for-4 and batted .500 on the day. Garvens finished with one double while Gangwish added a pair of two-baggers and notched one run with one RBI. Derek Daly rounded out Mines' extra-base hits, turning in one hit that happened to be a triple.
 
On the mound, Tyler Blomster (10-3) took the loss after giving up six runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings while striking out five batters. Sam Slusser came in out of the bullpen and tossed 1.1 innings of nearly flawless relief, submitting a 0.00 ERA and just two hits against him. The Oredigger duo gave up no hits for extra bases, holding the Mavericks to a slugging percentage of .353.
 
With the loss, Mines (40-14) falls to 1-1 in this year's NCAA Tournament. Over two games, the Orediggers are batting .279 as a team and slugging .500 thanks to six doubles, three triples and one home run. Colorado Mesa (47-9) earned the victory thanks to 12 hits and a .353 team batting average. The Mavericks used three pitchers to record 10 strikeouts in their second game of the day. Mesa also eliminated West Texas A&M earlier on Friday with a 13-10 victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the sixth meeting between Mines and Mesa this season, the Orediggers struck first. With two outs in the top of the opening frame, Gangwish drew a walk and Popp followed up with a home run over the short porch down the left-field line. Daly attempted to add to the 2-0 lead with a two-out triple, but was left stranded. That would be all the scoring for either team until the fourth inning as Blomster settled in and struck out three batters while allowing just two hits through the first third of the game.
 
Mesa finally broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one run on two hits. The Orediggers immediately responded with one fifth-inning run off the bat of Gangwish. The senior catcher laced a RBI double to left-center field, bringing Kehe in to score for a 3-1 advantage. However, the Mavericks maintained the one-run margin by plating a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
In the sixth stanza, neither team scored and Blomster was efficient, using 14 pitchers for three outs. Unfortunately for Mines, the seventh inning was not as quick. After two quick outs following the stretch, Mesa racked up four runs on five hits, taking a 6-3 lead. The Oredigger bats remained silent and that would be the final tally.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines boasts an all-time record of 3-3 in the NCAA Tournament.
- Blomster's loss to Colorado Mesa is just the sixth of his career with a three-year mark of 24-6.
- Popp's home run marks the 21st of his career with the Orediggers.
- Kehe scored the 181st run of his career, tying the redshirt junior with Selsor for #2 on Mines' all-time runs list.
- Gangwish has reached base safely in 44 consecutive games.
- Gangwish's two doubles also give the senior 45 in his career which is alone at #5 on the Orediggers' all-time list.
- Head coach Robby Bales is 40-15 in his first season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines' postseason continues on Saturday at 12 p.m. with another game against Colorado Mesa. An Oredigger win would activate an if-necessary game tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Live stats and video of the games 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.