GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team swept Regis in a RMAC doubleheader on Wednesday evening by scores of 15-10 and 4-2 at Jim Darden Field.
 
Among Mines' top offensive weapons was Gabe Garvens who hit .571 through two games with two runs and three RBI on four hits including a double and a home run. Teammate Danny McDermott joined Garvens in the power parade with a grand slam and six RBI on the day while swinging .333. Wayne Moeck's three runs scored led the team on the evening. Trevor Howard, Brady Veltien, Moeck, Toby Scoles and Jason Hall all notched multiple hits. Howard, Garvens, Scoles, McDermott, Hall, Luke Folsom and Caden Bonds each recorded multiple runs.
 
Drew Hill (0-5) and Marcus Lee (0-3) both started on the mound for the Orediggers but did not factor in either decision. Adam Houghtaling (1-2) earned the win in game one thanks to 3.0 innings of two-run, five-hit relief while striking out two batters. Veltien (1-0) claimed victory in the night cap thanks to 0.2 innings of work out of the bullpen with two strikeouts against three batters and zero runs scored. Additionally, Jackson Bakovich was credited the game-two save on 2.1 innings of one-hit scoreless. Bakovich struck out three batters in the effort. Rodney Gregg came out of the bullpen in both games to rack up 4.0 innings of two-run, three-hit pitching. Zachary Kriethe also appeared in relief for Mines.
 
With the sweep, the Orediggers (7-17, 7-17 RMAC) sent Regis (17-15, 13-15 RMAC) into a four-game skid. The Rangers outhit Mines by a 22-19 margin, but the Orediggers slugged .492 as a team thanks to five doubles, one triple and two home runs. Regis only produced two hits for extra bases on offense and the Ranger pitching staff left Golden with a combined 9.56 ERA. Mines' hurlers emerged with an ERA over 5.00 and walked nine batters. The biggest difference overall proved to be slugging and five errors for RU while the Orediggers only committed three.
 
GAME ONE: Mines 15, Regis 10
As clouds and rain moved through the Front Range in the early afternoon, Mines surged to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to three hits including a RBI double from Garvens. The Orediggers were playing as the visitors on their home field due to conference rescheduling rules and saw their lead quickly evaporate. Regis rallied back with six runs over the bottom of the first and second innings for a 6-3 lead. That advantage became 8-4 after the sixth fame, but Mines would finally respond in the top of the seventh.
 
Scoles and Moeck started the rally with back-to-back one-out singles. Folsom worked a walk to load the bases and truly set the table for McDermott. The Orediggers' third baseman took one pitch for a ball followed by two strikes before launching Regis' fourth pitch well over the right-field fence onto Stermole Soccer Stadium. McDermott's grand slam tied the score at 8-8 as the game headed into the bottom of the seventh frame. While the Rangers quickly retook a 10-8 lead, the Orediggers remained unfazed. Mines unleased seven runs on six hits including a bases-clearing triple from Scoles in the top of the ninth. Houghtaling lassoed that momentum on the mound and finished the job on two fly balls and a strikeout to clinch the win.
 
GAME TWO: Mines 4, Regis 2
The Orediggers and Rangers rewrote the storyline in the night cap as scoring came at a premium while defense and pitching took center stage. Regis struck first with single runs in the first two frames. However, drama arose near the end of the second as an awkward play led to the ejection of Mines Head Coach Robby Bales. Instead of folding, the Orediggers rallied around their absent skipper.
 
Mines manufactured one unearned run in the top of the third inning on Bonds' sacrifice-fly that plated Howard. The Orediggers' defense did their part by turning a double play on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the bottom of the third. Then, the home team tied the game and claimed the lead in fourth frame. McDermott stole second base which allowed Folsom to come home from third. Howard quickly powered his squad to a 3-2 lead on a rocket through the left side which scored the aforementioned McDermott. At that point, Mines' bullpen stepped into the spotlight.
 
Veltien cleaned up a scoreless fourth frame with one strikeout and recorded a second whiff early in the fifth inning. Gregg took the ball from Veltien and worked a scorching line drive to second base which Garvens casually gloved. Bakovich came on the scene and used two pitches to end the fifth inning and keep Mines in the lead, 3-2. Garvens' solo home run in the top of the sixth led to Bakovich striking out the side. Two fly balls and a groundout made Regis' lone single in the seventh forgettable as the Orediggers closed out their first home games in nearly two months.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 31-28 in the series against Regis dating back to 2009.
- Veltien's win on the mound marked the first of the true freshman's career.
- Similarly, Bakovich earned the first save of his career less than one week after getting his first win.
- Wednesday marks Mines' first regular-season sweep of Regis since 2017.
- McDermott continues to lead the Orediggers with 16 runs, 22 RBI and five home runs. He now has 13 home runs in his career.
- Scoles' triple was the first of his career after starting at Mines as a pitcher.
- Garvens' home run marked his second of the season and his fifth as an Oredigger.
- Bakovich is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and one save in five appearances as a redshirt freshman.
- Houghtaling also earned his first pitching win as an Oredigger after two years at San Jacinto JC in Texas.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is 59-38 in his third year as head coach for the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines continues its run of six games in five days on Friday as the Orediggers open a four-game set against UCCS at Jim Darden Field. No spectators are allowed into the facility but live video and stats will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also follow all of Mines Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @MinesAthletics, and online at www.minesathletics.com.