GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team saw its historic, record-setting season come to a close on Saturday with an 11-1 loss in the NCAA South Central Regional Championship game at Sam Suplizio Field.
Mikey Gangwish was Mines' top hitter for average, batting .500 with a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Joe Popp accounted for the Orediggers' lone run and smacked a double as well.
Phil VanZale was responsible for driving Popp in, recording one RBI on a 1-for-1 day at the plate as a pinch hitter for Mines.
Trevor Kehe and
Derek Daly added base knocks to the final line as well.
Drew Hill (8-3) was the Orediggers' starting pitcher and wore the loss due to four runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts.
Will Scott,
Mitch Menard,
Owen Pigati,
Ian Durgin and
Colin Morris all appeared in relief for Mines.
Despite the loss, it was still a record day for the Orediggers as they matched the program record for games played in one season at 56. Mines finishes the season 40-15 which also marks the most wins in a season for the Orediggers. The senior class made up of
Daniel Ciraula,
Mikey Gangwish,
Jace Selsor,
John Howard,
Joe Popp,
Owen Pigati,
Colin Morris,
Ben Stinson and
Phil VanZale close their careers as the winningest senior class in program history, leading Mines to its first two NCAA Tournament appearances and breaking numerous career, season and single-game records. Colorado Mesa (48-9) advances to the NCAA South Central Super Regional where it will face the winner of Rogers State vs. Angelo State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The early going of Saturday's championship game provided hints of a pitchers' duel as both teams started the contest with back-to-back shutout frames. Hill struck out three batters over that span and allowed no hits. However, Mesa broke up the shutout in the top of the third inning with two runs on three hits.
Four more zeros on the scoreboard brought the game into the sixth inning with the Mavericks still holding a 2-0 lead. Single runs for the hosts grew the lead to 4-0 before Mines broke up Mesa's shutout bid in the bottom of the seventh inning. Popp smacked a lead-off double. Then, VanZale entered the game as a pinch hitter and laced a RBI single up the middle to make it 4-1. Colorado Mesa's response to Mines' run was to seven unanswered over the last two frames. The 11-1 advantage proved insurmountable for the Orediggers as they closed book on the 2019 season.
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 3-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Selsor closes his Oredigger career as the program's all-time leader in hits, total bases and at-bats with 203 games played and started for Mines.
- Gangwish's career ends with the catcher as the Orediggers' all-time home runs and RBI king, tallying 46 dingers and 186 RBI over the last four years.
- Popp's run scored gives the senior 134 for his career. He also notched 196 hits, 41 doubles, 21 home runs and 125 RBI during his time at Mines.
- VanZale's RBI was the 25th of his career.
- Ciraula,
John Howard, Morris, Stinson and Pigati all appeared in their final contest as Orediggers on Saturday afternoon.
- Pigati's appearance against Colorado Mesa was the 41st of his career. He closes his Mines career fielding 1.000 off the mound.
- Hill's four strikeouts put the sophomore at 111 on the season which is #1 in Mines' history and also ranks in the RMAC's top-10.
- Kehe's single against Colorado Mesa gives the redshirt junior 85 on the year, breaking his previous record of 84 set last season. He now has 204 hits in his career.
- Head coach
Robby Bales finishes his first season at the helm with a record of 40-15.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines will await the announcement of postseason honors including all-region, all-America and Gold Glove teams. Those awards will be announced at www.minesathletics.com.
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
