WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Colorado School of Mines softball team got their 2023 season started Friday evening at Simpson Field with the first of three doubleheaders scheduled for this weekend as they lined up opposite Palm Beach Atlantic.
 
The Orediggers (0-2) and Sailfish (3-3) were involved in a pitcher's duel early in game one before late runs for the home team proved to be the difference in a 3-0 loss, while in game two, PBA scored in four of six innings as they swept the doubleheader with a 7-0 win in the nighcap.
 
Mines and PBA went down in order to start off game one before the Sailfish threatened in the second inning with the first runners reaching base. Unperturbed, Sadriena Rodriguez (0-0) struck out the next two before an interference call on the batter on a pop-up down the first base line ended the inning.
 
The Orediggers looked to break the seal in the top of the third, as Kayleigh Krueger collected the first hit of the season to lead off the inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kendall Aragon. Lauren Decker singled to third to advance Krueger before stealing second herself to put a pair in scoring position, but the Sailfish were able to escape the inning as it remained scoreless.
 
Offense continued to be at a premium until the fifth inning when PBA was able to turn a leadoff single by Kendall Baer off of reliever Taylor Wayne (0-1) into the first run of the game, as she subsequently stole second and eventually came around to score on an RBI groundout by Daylin Hejtmanek for the first tally of the game.
 
Aubree Karraker led off the top of the sixth with a single before being forced out at second on a fielder's choice and being replaced on the bases by Sidney Wilson. Sara Larson reached on a two-out error as Mines again had a runner in scoring position, but a groundout ended the inning. The Sailfish added two more in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-0, scoring on an error and a bases-loaded hit by pitch before Wayne got a strikeout to limit the damage.
 
Unfortunately, a seventh inning rally wasn't in the cards as despite a leadoff single to left field by Krueger, Mines dropped the opener 3-0.
 
PBA didn't waste any time getting on the board in game two, getting to starter Cassidy Chvatal (0-1) for two runs on an RBI double by Evoni Rodriguez before she scored on a sac fly by Larken Maseda moments later.
 
Chvatal was able to rebound after the rough start to the night and allowed just two hits without surrendering a run over the next two innings before the Sailfish led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to make it 3-0.
 
PBA added another run in the fifth before putting up a three-spot in the sixth to make it a 7-0 game before setting down Mines in the seventh to complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
NOTABLES
-Rodriguez worked four scoreless innings in game one, allowing just one hit while striking out three
-Krueger went 2-3 at the plate in game one
-Sophie Furniss doubled in her first at bat as an Oredigger in game two
-Kendall Aragon also recorded her first career hit in the second game of the evening.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will continue their weekend in the Sunshine State Saturday at 12 p.m. ET when they take on Barry in a doubleheader from Miami Shores.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines softball on Twitter at @MinesSoftball and Instagram at @mines_sb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.