GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines Baseball utility man Luke Folsom guided the Orediggers to an 8-5 victory against Regis on Sunday in the series finale at Jim Darden Field.
 
Folsom was the starting pitcher before moving to the designated hitter spot while batting the entire game. He helped the cause at the plate with a 3-for-5 day including two runs, one RBI and a home run while also garnering a straight steal of home plate from third base. On the mound, Folsom tossed 3.1 innings and surrendered just two runs on six hits while fanning five and walking one. Other performers at the dish included Adam Houghtaling, I-Ly Hsue and Danny McDermott. Houghtaling posted a 1-for-2 line featuring two runs and two walks. Hsue scored twice as well on a 2-for-4 day with a RBI. McDermott's resume included one double and two RBI. Wayne Moeck and Taylor White also scored. Keene Tanaka notched a double, and Caden Bonds tallied a hit to round it out.
 
Following Folsom's outing on the mound, which did not allow the sophomore to factor in the decision, Rodney Gregg, Ben Schoneman and Zachary Kriethe all appeared in relief. Schoneman (2-3) claimed the win thanks to 2.2 innings out of the bullpen. He gave up three runs on five hits including two solo home runs. He also struck out three and walked none. Kriethe (3) earned the save behind 3.0 innings of two-hit, shutout relief featuring one hit batter, zero walks and five strikeouts. Gregg walked one batter and did not record an out, but also didn't give up any runs or any hits.
 
Mines (26-15, 11-13 RMAC) was outhit and outslugged by Regis (24-21-1, 17-11, RMAC), but the Orediggers' pitching and defense made up for hit by striking out 13 Ranger batters and leaving 11 RU baserunners stranded. Mines scored its eight runs on nine hits including two doubles and one home run. Regis notched its five runs on 13 hits with two doubles and two home runs. Each team committed one error in the field. The Orediggers also made up ground on offense by stealing four bases compared to just one stolen base by the Rangers. Also notable for the home team on offense was a 7-2 advantage in bases on balls.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sunday's skies were overcast and the temperature hovered in the 50s, but there was minimal wind. The Orediggers took advantage of the relatively drastic change in conditions and led the series finale from start to finish, but Regis did keep it close the whole way. It all started with two outs in the top of the first when Folsom thought he had drawn a walk but was called back to the plate. He proceeded to send the next pitch over the right-field fence for an opposite-field, solo home run. That sparked a five-run, two-out roll for the home team thanks to Houghtaling scoring on a balk, Hsue coming across the plate on a wild pitch, and McDermott smacking a two-run double to plate White and Moeck.
 
After the first inning, Mines' bats went quiet and the Rangers scored single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. If the Oredigger bats had remained silent, RU would have tied the game at five. However, the home team took advantage of a Regis error in the bottom of the fifth inning and plated two more runs thanks to Houghtaling, Hsue and White. Mines' 7-5 would have withstood the test of time, but Folsom had one more thing to prove. In the bottom of the seventh, McDermott was at the plate and nearly took a 0-2 pitch off the face. As Regis' pitcher received the ball and turned his back to third, Folsom broke for home on a straight steal and slid across the plate to make the final tally.
 
That being said, Oredigger pitching and defense carried their fair weight along the way. Folsom, of course, provided the first highlight by getting a strikeout looking to end the third right after giving up a two-out double which followed a run off a Mines error. Schoneman added to the defensive highlight reel in the fourth frame. Regis had loaded the bases and Gregg had walked one run in, Schoneman emerged from the bullpen and took the bump with one out. He struck out his first batter and worked a 2-2, ground-ball to Bonds at second to eliminate the danger. While the fifth and sixth innings yielded RU's two solo home runs, the seventh brought a bit more excitement. Three straight Ranger singles loaded the bases with zero outs. This time, Kriethe hopped across the white line out of the bullpen and immediately drew a ground-ball double play that featured Hsue stepping on second before hucking it to Houghtaling at first. Even though a run was scored, Kriethe stopped any additional bleeding with a four-pitch strikeout. Kriethe put the cherry on top by striking out four batters over the last two frames including a strikeout looking for the last out of the game.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines earned its 83rd win in the all-time series against Regis thanks to Sunday's victory.
- Folsom's home run was his 10th of the season and 13th of his career. He's now tied for #12 on the Orediggers' single-season list.
- Folsom also leads the 2022 squad in runs, hits, doubles, total bases, RBI and hit by pitches. His 110 total bases this season currently rank #14 in program history.
- Furthermore, Folsom touts 19 multi-hit games this season which ranks #1 on the team.
- Kriethe finished the four-game weekend touting three appearances resulting in one win, one save and a 3.86 ERA thanks to two runs on five hits in 4.2 innings and six strikeouts.
- Kriethe leads the Orediggers with 19 pitching appearances in 2022. He's only walked four batters total.
- Following weekend action around the RMAC, Mines sits #6 in the conference standings and holds a two-game lead for the final berth in the league tournament with eight games left to play.
- Coach Bales holds an overall record of 88-56 in his fourth season as the head coach at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers close their 2022 home slate next weekend with a four-game series against Adams State at Jim Darden Field. Senior Day will be celebrated on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets or at the gate. Live stats and video 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.