GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines and Adams State battled to a doubleheader split on Saturday, but Mines came away with the series victory to solidify their claim on a postseason spot.
The Orediggers (17-11, 16-8) were led at the plate once again for
Clara Larson, who hit two home runs in the morning game. She wrapped up a huge series slugging 1.692 with nine RBI and seven extra-base hits, including four doubles.
Sydney Marchando earned her second win of the series with a one-run, six-strikeout effort as Mines won the opener 9-1 in six. Adams State took advantage of Oredigger miscues in the finale to win 6-2.
With the split, Mines remained in fourth place in the RMAC with the top six making the RMAC Tournament field at the end of the season.
GAME 1 - MINES 9, ADAMS STATE 1 (6 inn.)
Clara Larson's two home runs and four runs batted in led Mines as they produced their third straight run-rule victory over the Grizzlies in a 9-1 opener.
Larson went long on consecutive at-bats to pace an 11-hit game for the Orediggers, with
Renata Boyd also going 3-for-4 and
Kylie Redding and
Sam Wade collecting two hits each.
Sydney Marchando struck out six in the victory, allowing only a Breck Smith's solo home run in the second.
Smith's round trip put ASU ahead in the second, but Mines quickly answered with a four-spot in the third.
Aubree Karraker scored on a wild pitch to tie the game before Larson's shot to left center made it 3-1;
Megan Dickson's sacrifice fly later in the inning plated
Kylie Redding.
Larson launched another home run in the fourth, a high carrying fly to dead center to make it 6-1, and
Grace Gonzales reached on an error in the fifth to led
Kayleigh Krueger come across for a 7-1 lead. Mines ended it in the sixth when Redding singled in Boyd and Krueger's sac fly brought in Larson at 9-1.
Adams State combined three pitchers with Kaitlyn Jackson (0-2) taking the loss in relief of starter Taylor Duncan, who departed in the third.
GAME 2 - ADAMS STATE 6, MINES 2
Adams State salvaged a win in the series finale, handing Mines a 6-2 loss in the getaway game.
The Grizzlies took advantage of four Oredigger errors as Samantha McDonald went 3-for-4 with two RBI out of the leadoff spot.
Sydney Marchando went 3-for-3 and
Clara Larson 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Orediggers.
Both Jade Garbiso and
Kylie Redding had strong starts to the game, but things got away from Mines with two errors leading to three Grizzly runs in the third. Larson pulled a run back in the bottom half when she singled in
Lauren Decker, and Redding laid down a squeeze bunt to plate Karraker in the fifth to make it 3-2. Hopes of a Mines comeback were dashed in the sixth, however, when an error-extended inning allowed McDonald to drive in two runs on a single and Bailey Reid to come across due to a throwing error on a double steal.
Garbiso (3-5) struck out five and allowed only one earned in the win. Redding (4-3) took the loss despite allowing only one earned run in three innings;
Sadriena Rodriguez threw four innings of relief and none of her three runs allowed were earned.
NEXT UP
Mines remains at home to host Colorado Christian next weekend.
