Mines (26-15, 11-13 RMAC) vs. Adams State (7-31, 4-20 RMAC) – Friday, 6 p.m. – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (26-15, 11-13 RMAC) vs. Adams State (7-31, 4-20 RMAC) – Saturday, 12 p.m. – DH – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (26-15, 11-13 RMAC) vs. Adams State (7-31, 4-20 RMAC) – Sunday, 12 p.m. – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

---

 
2022 HOME FINALE
The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team is set to close its 2022 home slate this weekend with a four-game series against Adams State at Jim Darden Field. It marks the tail end of an eight-game home stand with RMAC Tournament berths and seeding still on the line. In addition to the four games in three days, Senior Day will be celebrated Saturday before game one of the doubleheader. Mines needs four wins and two Colorado Christian losses over the last two weekends to clinch a postseason berth. Adams State has to win out to even have a shot at the RMAC Tournament. Needless to say, every game is worth more than ever at this point in the season.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Every Mines home game and all RMAC games can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. Additionally, the Orediggers' home games feature play-by-play commentary from Miles Dunklin. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC". Fans can also follow @OrediggersBSB on Twitter for live in-game updates.
 
FIRST PITCH
This weekend's ceremonial first pitch will be a special one. A tradition started nearly a decade ago continues with the fathers of the seniors throwing out the first pitch to their sons. This will take place before game one of Saturday's doubleheader which is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.
 
WEATHER FORECAST
There will be a bit more wind on Friday night but otherwise the weekend forecast looks primed for baseball. Friday's opener at 6 p.m. looks for a game-time temperature of 55 degrees, mostly sunny skies and winds gusting up to 25 mph. Saturday's forecast is clear with less wind and temperatures soaring into the 60s and 70s. Sunday appears nearly identical to Saturday with partly cloudy skies. Sunscreen and a light jacket seems to be the move. Maybe an extra layer for Friday when the sun goes down.
 
LOOKING BACK
Mines opened its eight-game home stand last weekend with a 2-2 split against Regis at Jim Darden Field. The Rangers took the first two by scores of 13-8 and 4-1. Starting pitchers Blake Ripp and Tyler Blomster took the losses in those two contests. The Orediggers claimed the last two games by scores of 5-4 and 8-5 including Taylor White's walk-off double to score I-Ly Hsue in game three. Alex Bumpus was Mines' most efficient hitter on the weekend, batting .462 with five runs on six hits including one double and a home run. Luke Folsom impressed as well especially with his series finale line of two runs on three hits including a home run and a straight steal of home while also starting on the mound and tossing 3.1 innings with five strikeouts. On the mound, Zachary Kriethe was the start behind three relief appearances which resulted in one win, one save and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. Only one of his appearances resulted in runs being scored. Ben Schoneman accounted for the other victory which he earned in relief. Kevin Zapanta started game three but did not factor in the decision despite 5.2 innings of three-run, five-hit baseball including nine strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State is all but eliminated from a shot at postseason play due to an overall record of 7-31 fueled by a conference record of 4-20. That being said, 13 of the Grizzlies' 31 losses have come by two runs or less making them a dangerous foe for anyone who faces off against ASU. Most recently, Adams State went 1-3 at home against UCCS. The Grizzlies nabbed game two of the series by a score of 6-2. The quartet of Cedrick Reynaud, Orlando Romero, Matt Bathauer and Mike Bathauer are the names to watch at the plate. Reynaud is hitting .383 and has scored 35 runs. Romero leads the team with eight home runs. Mike Bathauer owns 10 doubles and seven home runs on a .341 average. Mike Bathauer hits .339 with 25 runs, and 37 RBI off of seven doubles and seven home runs. On the mound, hitters need to look out for Alfredo Villa. In 10 starts he is 5-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 65.2 innings of work. That line includes five complete games as well.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
Since 2013, Mines leads the series against Adams State by a healthy, 27-7 margin. However, ASU did win the last meeting between the Orediggers and Grizzlies on an 11-10 score in Alamosa on May 1 last season. Prior to that, Mines had won 12 straight games against Adams State running from 2017-21.
 
2022 SENIORS
The group to be honored on Saturday for their careers and contributions to Mines baseball features seven Orediggers. Nash Neff, Alex Bumpus, Taylor White, Toby Scoles, Brayden Weyer, Will Scott and Tyler Blomster will all be recognized on the field prior to the 12 p.m. first pitch of the doubleheader opener. That groups combined tenure spans all the way back to 2017 and includes two NCAA Tournament appearances along with numerous program records. Contributions range from Blomster's six years at Mines to White's single season as a graduate transfer which already includes two game-winning hits. Overall, the seniors' combined stats include 118 runs scored on 159 hits including 33 doubles, one triple and 17 home runs resulting in 93 RBI. On the mound, the 2022 class produced 40 wins compared to 13 losses with five saves and 418 strikeouts in 460.2 innings of work.
 
MOECK HIGHLIGHTS RMAC ACADEMIC TEAMS
Wayne Moeck was voted RMAC First-Team All-Academic on Monday and Mines baseball put 19 total Orediggers on the conference's academic teams. In addition to Moeck earning top-squad honors, Mason Andrews, Grant Badstebner, Jackson Bakovich, Alex Bumpus, Chandler Cole, Luke Folsom, Adam Houghtaling, Zachary Kriethe, Collin Kringlen, Marcus Lee, Nash Neff, Blake Ripp, Nic Roma, Toby Scoles, Weston Siefken, Brady Veltien, Ryan Vermeer and Kevin Zapanta were all named to the RMAC Academic Honor Roll.
 
RMAC RUNDOWN
With eight games remaining on the Orediggers' RMAC schedule and in the 2022 regular season, they hold sole possession of #6 in the conference standings which is the final slot for a berth in the league tournament. Mines' mark of 11-13 is good enough for a two-game lead on #7 Colorado Christian. The Orediggers also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cougars making it a three-game lead. The most simple scenario involves Mines winning four of its last eight games and CCU dropping at least two of eight against MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa. If that happens, the Orediggers clinch a postseason berth. Mines can win less than four games and still get in, but that makes it more complicated. If the Orediggers win more than four of their last eight games, there is a chance their seeding improves.
 
WALTER PENNINGTON
Instead of "In the Pros" we'll just update you on Walter Pennington who is currently the only Oredigger active in professional baseball. Late last week, Pennington was promoted from Kansas City's High-A team in the Quad Cities to their Double-A affiliate the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He already has two appearances with his new team and is 1-1 thus far. The Bloomfield, Colo., native has only surrendered earned runs in one outing this season. His 2022 stat line features a record of 1-1 with one save in five total games and a 4.15 ERA thanks to 11 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. Pennington's professional career includes a 4-4 record and five saves with a 3.46 ERA in 30 games while striking out 51 batters in 52.0 innings.
 
BASEBALL MATH
The NCAA Statistical Database includes a category titled "Toughest to Strike Out." It just so happens Adam Houghtaling ranks #7 in the nation in this category, but what does it even mean? Toughest to Strike Out in the NCAA is similar, but slightly different than strikeout percentage. The latter is calculated using total strikeouts divided by plate appearances. The former is total at-bats divided by total strikeouts. In Houghtaling's case, he has struck out four times in 86 at-bats. In the spirit of baseball math, we take 86/4. That equals 21.5, meaning that Houghtaling currently strikes out once every 21.5 at-bats. As we covered earlier this year, an at-bat is not the same as a plate appearance. Either way, not too shabby for a left-handed nerd.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines closes the 2022 regular season next weekend at UCCS. The format includes two doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Live stats and video will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.